Fiestas in honour of Jesus Nazareno

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

23rd April to 3rd May 2008

This fiesta is very special to Javea although celebrated throughout Spain. It is an assortment of events leading up top the return of the Naerino to its home place in the Calvario shrine in the ermita on the Montgo.

Although the original Nazereno may have been brought to javea by Andalucian sailors todays tradition revolves around 1767.In this year the overlords of Javea were blessed with a son`and the villagers were so delighted that they sent a delegation to madrid to offer their congratulations and pledge their louyalty to the newborn son. The duchess was so taken with the loyalty of the town thatshe presented a carefully carved Nazerino to show he r love of the people of Javea.Plans were kmade to make a Caverino shrine on the Montgo so that it could overlook Javea. This was completed 3 years later in 1770. The towns people prayed to the shrine to protect them form ills - which seemed to work in 1834 when many in the surrounding area died of a cholera out break but Javea remained safe!

The shrine was remodeled and improved in 1847 to the blue domed Ermita which we see today.

During the spanish civil war the originla Nazereno was burnt, but through photographs anotherimage was made and remains today. In 1967, in honour of its 200th year the Nazerno was bedtowed the title Mayor of Javea. Since then the image travels with the baton of office at its feet.

Each year on the third sunday in lent the image is dressed in new robes and carried through the streets form the ermita to the church of San Bartolome. A mass is said at 1am in which the Chalice from the Valencian cathedral is used. This is thought to be the actual chalice used by Jeasus Christ at the last Supper!

During holy week the image is carried through the streets by those who are its carers.

On May 3rd the image is born on the shoulders of its carers and taken back to its home in the Ermita. The procession starts at dusk out side the San Bartolome church. Long candles are lit and carried in the procession winding up the hill. A fabulous sight!
May 3rd is also the Day of the flower Cross, where streets are adorned with crosses made of flowers and natural products.