Cartagena is experiencing a very special day this Sunday to commemorate the Centenary of the arrival of the Virgen de la Piedad to the city (1925-2025). To mark this milestone, the image has been moved, in an extraordinary way, from the Renfe Station to the Church of Santa María de Gracia, in an event filled with emotion and popular participation.
One of the most symbolic moments occurred at 1:00 p.m., when the Piedad arrived at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where it was received by a company of Californian grenadiers, who paid homage to her to the sound of the national anthem and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
At this point, Mayor Noelia Arroyo, accompanied by members of the municipal corporation, welcomed the image and presented her with a very special gift: a wooden reproduction of the municipal coat of arms from 1925, crafted by artisan Juan Miguel Cervilla, which the Virgin carried until her entrance into Santa María.
Following this emotional act, the mayor joined the procession, while other members of the municipal corporation actively participated in the relay of portapasos, between the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Calle Mayor.
Arroyo recalled that «100 years ago, from the moment you appeared at the Station, you intimately connected with your people, who, surrendered and devoted, decided to escort you en masse through the streets of Cartagena, a tradition and devotion that has grown year by year. Cartagena recognized in you the mother, and since then, the Virgen de la Piedad has been part of the emotional heritage of all Cartagenans, of the river of promises that accompany you every Holy Monday, of the devotees who have venerated you for a century, of those who melted their own jewels to place the crown and silver heart on you.»
A thousand people, men and women, acted as promise porters, accompanying the Virgin on her journey through the streets of Cartagena.
The itinerary, open to anyone who wishes to participate as a promise, began around 10:30 a.m. and passed through: Avenida de América, Plaza Puertas de San José, San Diego, Plaza Merced, Duque, Plaza San Ginés, San Francisco, Campos, San Miguel, Aire, Cañón, Príncipe de Vergara, Subida de las Monjas, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mayor, Plaza de San Sebastián, Aire, until her collection at the Church of Santa María.
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Under the slogan ‘With Her,’ the Virgen de la Piedad was accompanied by over a hundred drummers and volunteer musicians, aged between ten and 65, from various musical groups in the Cartagena Region, who altruistically performed marches like Plegaria or Caridad Chica throughout the route.
Furthermore, to enhance the solemnity of the event, the bell tower of the Town Hall clock played the Plegaria march continuously until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The Virgen de la Piedad arrived at the Church of Santa María where, after the singing of the traditional Salve, she was taken to her chapel, from where she will once again depart next Holy Monday, surrounded by thousands of Cartagenans.
A COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATION
This event is part of the activities for the Centenary of the Virgen de la Piedad (1925-2025), organized by the Group of Promise Porters of the Most Holy Virgen de la Piedad and the Group of the Most Holy Virgen de la Piedad, alongside the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth (Marrajos), to which they belong, with the collaboration of the Cartagena City Council.
To mark the Centenary of the arrival of the Most Holy Virgen de la Piedad to Cartagena, the El Batel auditorium hosted a concert on the night of April 5th, featuring the participation of the three Music Bands that accompany the Virgin in her processional parades: SAM Santa Cecilia de Pozo Estrecho, La Soledad de Molinos Marfagones, and Sauces de Cartagena.
