After the reduction of restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the historic cities of Minas Gerais once again receive faithful and tourists for Holy Week celebrations. The centenary churches will have an intense program of masses, biblical re-enactments and processions, such as those of the fire and resurrection.
The Holy Week festivities refer to traditional rituals from the 18th century.
In Ouro Preto, in the central region of Minas Gerais, the resumption of face-to-face celebrations is marked by great expectations.
This Thursday (14), the foot washing ceremony will take place at 6 pm at the Church of São Francisco de Assis, downtown, and at 8:30 pm, at Largo do Rosário, in the Rosário neighborhood. At 11 pm, the fire procession leaves the churchyard of the Church of São Francisco de Assis and heads towards the Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores.
The bonfire procession represents the biblical passage of Christ’s imprisonment on the Mount of Olives. Believers carry torches of fire, dressed in black robes and hoods, to represent the Roman soldiers who arrested Jesus.
On Friday morning (15), at 5:00 am, the way of the cross takes place, departing from the Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores, in the Antônio Dias neighborhood, towards the cruise located in the Alto da Cruz neighborhood. Between 8 am and 5 pm, also in the Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores, the veneration of the Dead Lord is held, to the sound of rattles that symbolize a day of recollection and reflection.
At 7:30 pm, in Largo do Rosário, the presentation of biblical figures, represented by residents of the city, and the ceremony of descent from the cross take place. Then the funeral procession takes place towards the Church of Nossa Senhora das Mercês e Perdões.
On Saturday (16), several churches in the city hold the solemn Easter Vigil. At 9 pm, the celebration can be followed in the Church of São Francisco de Assis and also in the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar.
From Saturday night and during the early hours of Sunday (17), the colorful rugs are assembled. Made with sawdust and depicting religious symbols, they adorn the city streets for the resurrection procession.
At 7 am, a festive mass is celebrated in the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, followed by the procession towards the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Upon arrival, there is the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of a new festive Mass.
In Tiradentes, on Thursday, at 19:00, the Lord’s Supper takes place, in the Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio, in the center. After the celebration, the Blessed Sacrament will be in the chapel for adoration of the faithful.
On Friday, at 19:00, the staged way of cross that runs through the streets of the city begins. It starts in front of the chapel of Senhor Bom Jesus da Poverza, in Largo das Forras and goes towards the Matriz de Santo Antônio. Then, on the stairs of the Matrix, the ceremony of descent from the cross and the burial procession take place.
On Easter Sunday, at 10 am, there will be a solemn mass in the Sanctuary of the Holy Trinity and at 4 pm, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a solemn mass in the Mother Church of Santo Antônio.
In São João Del Rei, the solemn mass of the Lord’s Supper takes place on Thursday, at 5 pm, in the Cathedral Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar. The foot washing ceremony takes place at 8:30 pm, in Francisco Neves square, behind the Cathedral.
On Friday, at 12:30, the sermon of the seven words is given, also in the cathedral. At 8:30 pm, the descending of the cross takes place on the steps of the Church of Nossa Senhora das Mercês, followed by the burial procession, which runs through the streets of the city towards the cathedral.
The Easter Vigil takes place on Saturday at 8 pm, also in the cathedral. On Sunday, at 4 pm, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament leaves the cathedral and travels through the streets of the historic center.
In Congonhas, on Thursday, at 19:00, a biblical performance is held in the square of the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Afterwards, there is a mass with a ceremony of washing of the feet and a vigil that continues until midnight.
On Fridays, at 7:00 am, the walk of the cross leaves the Church of São José Operário and heads towards the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. At 7 pm, the staging of the condemnation, passion and death of Christ is performed in the Basilica of Senhor Bom Jesus, followed by the descent from the cross and the burial procession.
On Sunday, at 5:30 am, a solemn mass is held in the Praça da Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição. After the celebration, the resurrection procession proceeds to the Basilica of Senhor Bom Jesus, where the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament takes place.
In the city of Sabará, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, the foot washing ceremony takes place on Thursday at 7:30 pm in the churches of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Nossa Senhora das Mercês and Nossa Senhora do Carmo.
On Friday, at 7 pm, the ceremony of descent from the cross takes place in the churchyard of the Church of São Francisco. Then, the funeral procession travels through the city streets towards the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição.
The blessing of fire and the Easter vigil are held on Saturday at 7 pm, both in the Church of São Francisco and in the Mother Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. On Sunday, at 9:00 am, the resurrection procession leaves the Rosário Church, passes through the Carmo Church and heads towards the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church.
