The Holy Week of Enna, one of the most dramatic and poignant events in the world, is
Nearly 2500 hooded brothers, who parade through the streets of the entire city, are part of the whole city. All the items to be carried in the procession will be prepared at the 16 churches that serve as the seats for the respective brotherhoods.
Holy Week is rich in history and symbols that are related to customs that have been passed down through the centuries, even during the Spanish period. The procession is accompanied by a band that plays sad music composed by Enna composers. As a mark of mourning, the banners of brotherhoods will be shut down from Palm Sunday through Good Friday.
These days, the town has very little car traffic. However, there is a shuttle bus that runs between the lower and upper Ennas and allows you to travel within the city.
Lighting is replaced with torches. The silence that follows the procession can only be stopped by the music of the band. This creates an atmosphere of engaged religiosity.
PALM SUNNDAY
9:00o’clock The Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit departs its church and marches towards the church of S. Leonardo.
10:00 o’clock: From the Santuario of Papardura the brottherhood of Holy Passion, Jesus impersonates the apostles and Roman soldiers. They then go to the square directly in front of St. Sebastian to represent Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. After the solemn Blessing, there will be a holy Mass at the church of S. Leonardo Abbate.
The procession of the College of Rectors of Enna’s brotherhoods leaves the church of Montesalvo at 16:00 o’clock. A Labarum (banner) is placed in front of the College. It represents all 16 brotherhoods. The College is then carried alternately according to the order of the various brotherhoods.
The brotherhoods, their assistants, and the rectors parade with their banners to the Cathedral for the Adoration of Holy Sacrament. It is displayed in the stunning silver ostensory, dated 1534.
The brotherhood SS. leaves at 17:00 o’clock Maria of the Rosario departs from the church of S. Giovanni, and he reaches the Cathedral of the Eucharistic Adoration.
At 18:00 o’clock, the church of S. Leonardo Abbate is the brotherhood SS. Passione marches towards
The Cathedral, via Passione, Piazza Puccini and via Roma, carrying back the statue of ECCE HOMO. The brother of SS. Crocifisso di Pergusa precede them.
The brotherhood of SS. begins at 19:00 o’clock Salvatore departs the church SS. Salvatore leaves the church SS and heads towards the Cathedral via Salvatore via Portosalvo via S. Francesco di Paola via Roma.
19:30 PM The brotherhood of SS Passione returns to her church for a short stop in front the church Maria SS. Addolorata where they offer a memorial prayer for Christ’s meeting with his Mother.
Holy Monday
The brotherhood of S. begins at 09:30 Anna walks from the church at S. Cataldo to the Cathedral for Eucharistic Adoration, passing via Roma.
S. Maria di Gesu di Montesalvo The brotherhood Maria SS della Visitazione travels via Montesalvo via Mercato, and via Roma to reach the Cathedral for Adoration.
16:00 o’clock from the church St’ Agostino the brotherhood of Maria SS delle Grazie moves to the cathedral via via Candrilli and via Mercato S. Antonio.
The brotherhood of SS gathers at 17:00 o’clock near the church of San Tommaso. Sacramento marches via Roma to reach the Cathedral.
18:00o’clock, from the church Santa Maria La Nuovathe brotherhood Maria SS La Nuova
Passing via Mulino a Vento via Donna Nuova via Capitano Alberto Colajanni, and via Roma, she reaches the Cathedral to receive her turn at Adoration.
Holy Thursday
16:00 o’clock is the turn of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit. From the church of the Holy Spirit to the Duomo, they will parade along the square S. Bartolomeo via Mercato, Via Roma, and Via Roma.
17:00 the Confraternity of the Holy Souls leaves Purgatory and proceeds along Via Roma to the Cathedral.
18:00 From the Shrine of St. Joseph. St. Joseph confraternity parades along Via Roma to the Duomo where they will offer Eucharistic Adoration.
Holy Wednesday
At 09:30the brotherhood Maria SS di Valverdemoves to the Santuario Maria SS di Valverdewalking Via Valverde from piazza S.Agostino, via Candrilli and via Roma to the Cathedral.
10:30from church S. Maria del Popolothe brotherhood Sacro Cuore di Geosu,walking via Vittorio Emanuele, and via Roma to the Cathedral
At 11:30, Maria SS Addolorata is reached by the brotherhood Maria SS Addolorata. She wears a white coat and a long train on her ground and walks to the Cathedral via Mercato S. Antonio.
12:30 From the church San Francesco d’Assisii, the brotherhood Maria SS Immacolata is similarly dressed and reaches The Cathedral.
13:30Solemm mass in repose and blessings for brotherhoods. The procession will go along Mazzini square via Via Orphanage Via Roma, Via Bagni, Via Roma, and finally back to the Duomo, where all the brothers will be kneeling and receive the Blessing. During the procession, brotherhoods raise their visors and display their banners.
Pergusa’s 20:30 is when the brotherhood SS performs the rappresentation of the Passion of Christ. Crocifisso di Pergusa
Holy Thursday
Afternoon mass in Coena domini with the Foot Washing is followed by the exposition in each of the Brotherhoods’ churches and the Cathedral of the Holy Sacrament. These expositions are commonly known as graves.
It is a long-standing tradition that involves decorating the altars of repose lavishly with art shrines and urns. The Eucharist in the Obstension is Jesus in His tomb. It’s suggested that they be visited in silence or in groups of odd numbers.
Holy Friday
Good Friday is a city filled with torches that will light up at sunset. This light will be the only one that illuminates the procession up to the Duomo’s conclusion. You can access the city up to 14.00. After that, you will need to take a shuttle bus.
At 16:00, the brotherhood of SS Passione begins her procession. The band plays along. They move from the church San Leonardo to the Church of the Addolorata where they are met by the brotherhoods in a particular order. They pay homage to the statue of Our Lady of Sorrow, and then they move towards the Cathedral.
The Brotherhood of the Addolorata closes the procession with the float that bears the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. Everyone is moved by her intense, suffering expression as she walks out of the church.
The brotherhood of SS Salvatore brings the urn from the DiedChrist to Cathedral parading via Salvatore via Portosalvo via Tre Palazzi, and via Roma.
The Cathedral is prepared for the procession. Brotherhoods will be arranged outside.
The solemn procession begins at 19:00 from the Cathedral. It starts with the band-leading funeral marches and then the brotherhood of holy passion, which carries the Misteri. The brotherhoods and SS. Crocifisso di Pergusa Maria SS del Valverde, SS. Maria SS del Rosario del Confraternity Maria SS. Della Visitazione, Sacro Cuore, Spirito Santo, Maria SS Immacolata, Anime Sante del Purgatorio, Maria SS la Nuova and SS. Salvatore. Complete clergy. The Cross reliquary, which contains fragments from the cross and the thorns Christ, is placed under the canopy. The procession is completed by the urn of Christ, the Addolorata float and another band. The procession is completed by the Mayor, as well as other representatives from the Municipality, the City Police, and the Carabinieri.
The procession marches along Via Roma via Liberta, Via Diaz and finally to the cemetery where the solemn blessing is performed. After a short stop, the procession continues on via S. Francesco D’Assisi via Vittorio Emanuele via Roma, via Mercato S.Antonio, and then via Roma to the Cathedral. The big procession ends its journey here, with the exception of some representatives from each brotherhood, including the Rectors. They will be accompanying the Dead Christ and the Statue of the Addolorata to their respective churches.
The great Good Friday procession has ended, but not for brothers. They are given wine, cookies, and boiled fava beans when they return to their churches.
Holy Saturday
22:30in The Cathedral and in all other churches, there is the blessing and use of the Easter Candle, the Easter Candle, and water for baptisms and Easter Vigil.
EASTER MONDAY it is also known as “a pace” (the peaceful). All churches celebrate the Masses for the Resurrection from 7,00 o’clock to 12,00.
18:00 is the time for La Paci . From the church of SS, the brotherhood moves with the float bearing Risen Christ. Salvatore follows Via Salvatore through Via Portosalvo to Via S. Francesco di Paola and Piazzetta San Paolo before stopping to wait for the second group. The Brotherhood, with the float carrying the Madonna statue, descends from the Sanctuary of San Giuseppe. They then head toward the Cathedral. The bells start to ring joyfully as soon as they spot the Risen Christ at a distance. The black veil then falls and the two floats quickly reach for each other. They then cross the crowd and enter Cathedral side-by-side. They will be displayed until Sunday.
DOMENICA in ALBIS, also known as “a spartenza”,
18:00 o’clock The brotherhoods of SSsalvore, San Giuseppe, and the Holy Spirit leave the Duomo to reach the Castello di Lombardia’s southern side for the Solemn Bossing of the Fields.
Later, there will be the ceremony known as “a spartenza”, which is the separation.
Piazza Mazzini is near the Cathedral. The two statues of Jesus the Risen Christ (and the Virgin Mary) are slowly moving apart from one another. They will then be reunited in their own churches.
THE FOOD
When talking about traditional food, don’t forget the pasta with fennel and sardines. On Easter Sunday, let’s try the “agnello Abbuttunatu” (buttoned lamb), stuffed with parmisan, and the ‘stigghiole’ (guts usually made of lamb but also goat or chicken) and then grilled on the grill.
Everyone is invited to a barbecue on Easter Monday. There will be a variety of fried foods, including fennel, mazzareddi (wild cabbages), and artichokes that have been roasted in the ashes.
Fried ravioli filled with ricotta are the perfect ending to your lunch.
