segunda-feira, 18 de abril de 2011

Holy Week - Semana Santa - 2011

Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world. Holy Week - Semana Santa in Portuguese - is observed throughout the country with processions and rituals similar to those of other Catholic countries, yet made unique by the specific context in which they happen. (Texts and Pictures by Ronald Péret)

way of the church
way of the church

History
Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately before Easter. The earliest catholic allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions (v. 18, 19), dating from the latter half of the 3rd century and 4th century. In this text, abstinence from flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Sunday an absolute fast is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (AD 260), refers to the 91 fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time.

The Church Lady
The Church Lady
Theme: Reenacting the Passion of Our Lord

Dates: Holy Week is the last week of Lent. Holy Week begins on 17 April 2011 and ends on 23 April 2011.

the people and its faith
people and faith

Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomas Sancta or Hebdomas Maior, "Greater Week"; Greek: Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, Megale Hebdomas)

Touching the Faith
Touching the Faith

"the week of lamentation" the interval between Palm Sunday and Easter Day is known par excellence as Holy Week.


Palm Sunday
Sunday before Easter

Colors: In most churches, the decorations are red to symbolize the blood of martyrdom. Some churches remove all decorations on Good Friday, veiling anything that can’t be removed in black.


Holy Week “ Through Ronald Péret Eyes ”


Good Friday. Women carrying an image of Nossa Senhora das Dores (Virgin of Sorrows) meet a procession of men carrying Nosso Senhor dos Passos, an image of Christ burdened by His cross.

Passion and Faith
Passion and Faith


Holy Week observances began in Jerusalem in the earliest days of the Church, when devout people traveled to Jerusalem at Passover to reenact the events of the week leading up to the Resurrection.