Coated by Gloria, Jesús Nazareno de la Falle goes back to the cobbled streets of San Bartolomé Becerra and the colonial city, carrying a message of deep Christian reaffirmation: His fiance come to Earth, not as a martyr, but as a glorious king who will come to judge alive and dead. This is the central message that transmits the processional walk of 2025, conceived as a visual catechesis at the service of faith.
Adorned with care by devout hands, The walk represents the promise of Jesus Christ to glorify those who have followed it and grant the resurrection to all those who have fulfilled their commandments. Each element, arranged with symbolic and artistic intention, reinforces this eschatological and hopeful vision.
The ornament incorporates elements of traditional Guatemalan pottery, interwoven with contemporary materials such as fiberglass, gold laminates and high relief details.
Angels announcing the return of the Savior and the imposing figure of San Pedro —porter of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven – complete this scene of spiritual exaltation. The whole set is part of a glory environment, where Christ’s second coming as a redeeming king is proclaimed.
With three months of hard work, The ornaments commission has managed to capture the message that evokes the memory of the parousia: the next coming of Christ. It was Eduardo Perea, spokesman for the brotherhood of Jesus of the fall, who gave more details about the artistic and cultural message of the processional courtship of the fifth Sunday of Lent.
The art behind Jesus’ processional ornament
Art manifests again in the processional Anda of Jesús Nazareno of the fall thanks to the artisans who, for three months, dedicated themselves to the decoration of this year under the direction of Jesús Castillo, in charge of the commission of ornaments, and Gabriel Pellecer. Both directed the young people who offered their talent and devotion creating the clouds, flowers and clothing of Los Angeles.
Taking care of every detail, the managers chose to capture a message of hope; Therefore, they decided to recreate the parousia of Jesus under the motto And again it will come with glory!, Part of the message that the processional is transmitted in this 2025.
Together with Los Angeles, who announce their arrival on clouds that symbolize their triumphant admission to the earth from heaven, the commission was also responsible for decorating the Virgin of Dolores, who accompanies Jesus of the fall in his journey of the fifth Sunday of Lent, joining the messages to frame in the proclamation of glory, as also evidenced in his velation last Friday, April 4.
These elements create an environment of Gloria when we meet that parousia in the next coming of Christ and remember the creed, Perea said.
With a red robe embroidered with gold threads, Jesús Nazareno de la Falle travels Antigua Guatemala this 2025. (Photo: Free press / courtesy: Brotherhood of Jesus Nazareno of the fall)
This year, the Brotherhood wanted to proclaim the promise stipulated in the Holy Gospel and in the reflection of the priests and faithful who read the Holy Scriptures, the spokesman emphasized.
In this case, it seeks to remember the creed, where it is mentioned: “And again it will come with glory to judge living and dead”Perea added.
The Nazarene Jesus Tunic of the Fall
One of the most stands out in one of the most massive courtships of Guatemala is the image of Jesus of the fall, who, with his merciful gaze, reflects the love for his faithful.
Prepared by Alejandro Juárez Toledo, The robe that wears the Nazarene of the fall, red and embroidered with gold threads, is a reflection of its majesty.
“In this processional courtship, the faithful can find an image with a loving look, full of mercy, but covered with Gloria. Of course, with these selected textiles, we can appreciate Jesus of San Bartolo in a spectacular way on his Sunday, on Sunday of Lázaro, on Sunday of Jesus of the fall,” Perea said.
Another of the elements that the Anda has this 2025 is the image of San Pedro, bearer of the keys of the sky. Perea details that its inclusion is part of the visual message that you want to convey: the glory of Christ and the hope of eternal life.
With a painting remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, the Brotherhood remembers life and the way to the cross of the Messiah. (Photo: Free press / courtesy: Brotherhood of Jesus Nazareno of the fall)
Expansion of Jesus’ journey of the fall
With faith, devotion and gratitude, more than 16 thousand faithful will carry on his shoulders this Sunday, April 6, Jesus Nazareno de la Falle, from San Bartolomé Becerra to the center of the colonial city, on a route of more than 22 hours.
“There are more than 16 thousand people, among men and women, who will load the sacred images. There are 126 batches for the processional courtship of this fifth Sunday of Lent,” Perea emphasized.
This year, the Temple of San Bartolomé extended four more batches, since in previous years, as in 2024, 122 shifts were made. This extension responds to the request of the devotees to Jesus of the fall.
It is expected that the holy image of Jesus of the fall will enter the temple early Monday, April 7, after the first morning, although the managers point out that this schedule could extend.
The processional event, which began at 2 hours on April 6, began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, followed by the touch of silence, the Roman bombard and the touch of the bell at 2.45 hours.
The courtship, as planned, was raised at 3 hours inside the temple of San Bartolomé Becerra. Finally, Jesus of the fall crossed the lintel of the door at 3.25 hours and began this apoteosic route of the fifth Sunday of Lent, giving way to the change of the second turn of loaders at 3.32 hours.
Under the sounds of “Jesús de San Bartolo” by Manuel Ramírez Crockett known as the sheep of Jesus of San Bartolo Granaderos, the processional Anda left the temple and began its passage through the village of San Bartolomé Becerra, followed by the procession of the Virgin of Dolores.
JESUS DEPARTURE OF THE FALL OF THE SAN BARTOLOMÉ BECERRA AT 3 HOURS IN THE FIFTH Sunday of Lent. (Video: Free press / courtesy: Brotherhood of Jesus Nazareno of the fall)
During his tour, the Brotherhood spokesman explained that it has an approximate schedule, but not exact, because the courtship parades through the streets of the Jerusalem of America in a quiet way. We do not run with the processional walk; We seek that the devotee charger can take Jesus of the fall and the Blessed Virgin of Dolores in a pausada, so that they enjoy not only the march, but also of the moment and that encounter with the saints.
After touring the streets of the village of San Bartolomé Becerra, the processional Anda entered Antigua Guatemala at 7 am, from the Santa Lucia road.
On its way, two more processional steps were added to the Santa Lucia road, and then reimburse the traditional tour: the visit to the union tank and the school of Christ. Subsequently, it will cross the Barrio de la Candelaria, and will arrive at the San José Cathedral between 16 and 17 hours.
Finally, it is expected that after the first hour of Monday, April 7, the image of Jesús Nazareno de la Falle enters the temple again, followed by the Virgin of Dolores.
Read more: Holy Week Carpets: The cultural heritage of Guatemala that continues to evolve
They integrate new marches
Under the direction of Héctor Alfredo Gómez, the Philharmonic Band, made up of approximately 60 musicians, will accompany Jesús Nazareno of the fall during the 22 hours of travel. Meanwhile, it will be the teacher Joaquín Vega Ortiz who will sing the marches during the route of the Virgen de Dolores.
Both groups of musicians have incorporated four additional marches in this tour, derived from the increase in batches.
They have four more marches for Jesus and for the Virgin; These will be the aggregates during the morning, when the change of tour is made on the Santa Lucia road, Perea explained.
There is a Guatemalan funeral pentagram with which we can delight ourselves, thanks to the marches that will accompany Jesus Nazareno of the fall and the Blessed Virgin prior to his entry to Antigua, he added.
The message of Jesus’ procession of the fall
For Catholic devotees, the fifth Sunday of Lent is especially significant for the exit of Jesus from the fall, since it transmits a message of redemption.
The eyes are put in Jesus of the fall, and for us it is very special to know that Lázaro’s Sunday, on Sunday of passion, as he is known liturgically, it is a date that recalls that Nazarene who fell three times on his way to torture. That image invites us, with his loving and merciful gaze, to reflect that if we fall, we must get up, Perea adds.
The Brotherhood emphasizes that Jesus of the fall transmits a blunt message: if God himself fell to the ground on his way to torture and redemption, we can also get up, as he did. That is the teaching that gives us in each processional allegory, in each ornament, prepared with love for the commission and the brotherhood, the communicator concluded.
Jesus of the fall: history and devotion from San Bartolomé Becerra
The procession of Jesús Nazareno de la Falle is one of the most emblematic and busy courtships of Antigua Guatemala, attracting tourists and devotees around the world.
Its origin dates back to the village of San Bartolomé Becerra, founded in March 1528. History tells that the image, carved in the seventeenth century by Pedro de Mendoza – first Baroque sculptor of Santiago de Guatemala – expresses in his face the suffering that invites reflection and faith.
The processional courtship had its first departure on March 23, 1902, promoted by residents of the village headed by Encarnación Sicay.
Over the years, the procession grew, incorporating new images, squads and a broader tour. At present, it is one of the most anticipated courtships of Lent and is considered by many faithful as the procession that marks the beginning of the end of the liturgical season.
Jesus’ walks have also evolved over time, moving from small parihuelas to imposing structures. From four arms furniture in 1905 to the current walk, with capacity for 90 loaders per shift, each structure reflects the devotion and effort of generations.
More than a tradition, Jesus’ procession of the fall represents for Guatemala a cultural and spiritual legacy that continues to grow year after year, between fervor, history and sacred art.