The first procession of Holy Week in Spain left Cartagena in the early hours of Friday morning. The penitential Way of the Cross of the Cristo del Socorro has been collected from the streets of the historic centre of the port city with the first light of Friday, 31st March.
Thousands of residents have crowded the central streets of Cartagena to see the procession of the two thrones, the Christ and the Virgin of the Soledad del Consuelo, under the march of a drum with a mute. This is the most austere of the processions held in Cartagena. This procession is very special, among other things because it is the only one in Cartagena in which the Christ is preceded by the Virgin.
During the course of the procession a Way of the Cross was prayed, making two stops of special significance and relevance for the people of Cartagena, one in Santa María de Gracia in front of the Virgen del Rosell, former patron saint of Cartagena, and another in the Church of La Caridad, witnessing the first mass to the current patron saint of Cartagena, the Virgen de la Caridad, whose feast day is celebrated on this day.
