Borgo a Mozzano last night was the scenario for the enactment of Jesus Christ’s last human moments on Earth. Through the narrow alleys of this atmospheric town the various biblical episodes were played out in what was termed ‘Sequela di Pasqua’.
First there was the Messiah’s joyful entry in Jerusalem and the meeting with his disciples in Borgo’s main square:
There was the last Supper where Jesus broke bread and drank wine and said to his disciples ‘do this in memory of me’. He also warned that one of them would betray him:
The harrowing scene in the garden of Gethsemane followed where Jesus pleads to God that his bitter cup may be taken away from him. If not, however, ‘let your will be done’.
Judas points out the Roman soldiers who they must capture by kissing Jesus who is then captured and led away.
The trial follows and Caiaphas and his Pharisees demand Christ’s crucifixion.
But Pontius Pilate can’t find anything wrong with Jesus. He washes his hands of the whole matter.
There is then Christ’s carrying of the cross with all the stations enacted. See if you can recognize some of them in the following photos. They are:
- Pilate condemns Jesus to die
- Jesus accepts his cross
- Jesus falls for the first time
- Jesus meets his mother, Mary
- Simon helps carry the cross
- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Jesus falls for the second time
- Jesus meets the three women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls for the third time
- Jesus is stripped of his clothes
- Jesus is nailed to the cross
- Jesus dies on the cross
- Jesus is taken down from the cross
- Jesus is placed in the tomb
Finally, there is the crucifixion behind the apse of Borgo’s main church of San Jacopo.
This vivid enactment didn’t finish here for we were invited into the church of San Rocco magnificently decorated with an amplified altar and where there was a fine choral concert which also included Mozart’s ave verum. As traditional, the proceedings were wound out with a rinfresco in the parish hall.
It’s been some time since the Sequela has been carried out in Borgo a Mozzano but thanks to the spirited collaboration of its citizens and associations this year a convincingly moving enactment was performed. It was even more poignant due to the fact that on the same day there had been massacres of Christians in two Coptic churches in Egypt. Plus ca change…
From London to Longoio (and Lucca and Beyond) Part Two 
This event was very poignant and it enabled us to mediate on the events as they unfolded as a redact meant before our very eyes. It was not only a good reminder of what we are actually meant to be celebrating at Easter not chocolate and Easter eggs and colourful bunnies and chicks but the crucifixion of Jesus to save us from our sins and the promised resurrection and the forgiveness of sins. The whole evenings revocation and recall of events was very poignant and true as far as we know from the scriptures to the events as they unfolded before our very eyes in places and gardens that most people had not known or seen before a beautiful adventure of a religious kind.
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