{"id":15860,"date":"2025-03-13T19:16:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T19:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tasteporto.com\/?p=15860"},"modified":"2025-07-07T16:51:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T16:51:07","slug":"holy-week-in-porto-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tasteporto.com\/fr\/holy-week-in-porto-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Week in Porto Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During Holy Week in Porto, churches and house balconies are decorated in purple to commemorate the Lord\u2019s Passion. While there are no organized processions, we suggest experiencing a unique Via Crucis<\/em> (Way of the Cross). If you need our help planning your Holy Week in the north of Portugal, we are here!<\/a>
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Holy Week celebrations in Portugal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most famous Holy Week celebrations in Portugal take place in Braga<\/a>. During the Passion of Christ, accommodation in that city is typically fully booked. A great alternative is to stay in Porto and take a train to Braga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Porto, there are no public processions during Holy Week, but there are other ways to reflect on the Via Dolorosa<\/em> (Sorrowful Way). The Cl\u00e9rigos Church, an 18th-century landmark known for its iconic tower, houses a museum with an impressive collection of religious art<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the highlights of this collection is the Christus Collection, assembled from the generous donation of Ant\u00f3nio Manuel Cipriano Miranda, a collector passionate about Christian iconography. Through the Cl\u00e9rigos Brotherhood, he enriched Porto\u2019s heritage with an astounding 400 (!) representations of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is in this deeply spiritual setting that we can experience our own Via Crucis during Holy Week\u2014a short but intense journey through the before and after of the Way of the Cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holy Week Tour in Porto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Judas\u2019 Kiss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the right, dressed in orange, Judas kisses Jesus while holding a bag of 30 pieces of silver (the price of betrayal). On the left, Roman soldiers stand ready to arrest Jesus. Below, one of Jesus\u2019 companions strikes a soldier, cutting off his ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though not one of the 14 official Stations of the Cross, this episode is often depicted during Holy Week and is deeply ingrained in local mythology, symbolizing betrayal and treason. Judas “sells” his friend and master for 30 pieces of silver, as described in Mark (14:43-47<\/a>), Luke (22:47-50<\/a>), and Matthew (26:47-51<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: \u201cThe one I kiss is the man; arrest him.\u201d Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, \u201cGreetings, Rabbi!\u201d and kissed him. Jesus replied, \u201cDo what you came for, friend.\u201d Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus\u2019 companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With this act, Judas Iscariot sets in motion the events that lead to the Passion of Christ. Later, overwhelmed with guilt, he takes matters into his own hands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. \u2018I have sinned,\u2019 he said, \u2018for I have betrayed innocent blood.\u2019
\u2018What is that to us?\u2019 they replied. \u2018That\u2019s your responsibility.\u2019
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.\u201d <\/em>

Matthew (27:3-5)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Flagellation of Christ<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A striking 18th\u201319th-century artwork depicts the Flagellation of Christ, a classic Holy Week scene. The imagery includes the Column, the Whip, and the Rope, three of the Instruments of the Passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though the scene has been widely portrayed in art by masters such as Caravaggio and Piero della Francesca, the Gospels refer to it only as “flogging.” Matthew (27:26<\/a>) describes it in more detail than John (19:1<\/a>) or Mark (15:15<\/a>): <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThen he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jesus Carries the Cross Before Veronica<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In this depiction, Jesus carries the Cross while, at the lower left corner, Veronica holds her veil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Veronica is honored on Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras), marking the beginning of Lent. According to an 8th-century tradition, she used her veil to wipe Jesus’ face during the Passion, leaving an imprint of the Holy Face on the fabric. Although this scene is traditionally associated with the 6th Station of the Cross, it is not confirmed in the Gospels. However, it gained popularity in the 12th century and was endorsed by many Popes, securing its place in Christian devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A gilt low-relief from the 17th\u201318th century depicts the Descent from the Cross, also known as The Deposition of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This episode, described in John 19:38, corresponds to the 13th Station of the Via Dolorosa<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cLater, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate\u2019s permission, he came and took the body away.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this representation, a soldier receives Jesus’ body as Joseph of Arimathea carefully lowers him, while Mary is comforted by Mary Magdalene.

Joseph of Arimathea became a legendary figure in the 4th century. By the 11th and 12th centuries, he was linked to the Holy Grail, King Arthur, and the founding of the first church in England (Glastonbury). In Spain, he was even believed to have been consecrated as a bishop by Saint James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piet\u00e0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A stunning 16th or 17th-century Spanish wood carving depicts the Piet\u00e0, or Lamentation of Christ, showing Mary holding the body of her Son after the Descent from the Cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Piet\u00e0 is a recurring theme in Christian art, symbolizing Mary\u2019s sorrow and devotion. This exquisite piece is painted in tempera and gold, reflecting the deep spirituality of Holy Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Holy Week Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can find these remarkable artworks and much more at the Christus Collection, located in the Cl\u00e9rigos Church. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and culminates with Easter Sunday. The key events include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n