The Crucifixion is the most poignant moment of the Maundy Thursday celebrations, marking the climax of the Verges Procession Crucifixion scene. After the long journey through the streets, the entourage arrives at The Little Square, next to the church, to witness the final act of the Passion.
The Staging of the Verges Procession Crucifixion
While The Manages (the Roman guards) take their positions around the stage, The Jews surround Jesus. There are no distractions here; all attention is focused on the cross being raised over the prepared hole. Following the script, it is The Jews themselves who swiftly order the execution:
“On it, we will raise the cross, ensuring we are careful, and between two criminals, we will nail our God!”
It is important to note that despite the mention of “two criminals,” the visual focus in The Little Square of Verges is solely on the central cross of Jesus, which stands alone in this intimate corner.
The Seven Words: The Testament from the Cross
The climax arrives when Jesus, from the cross, speaks his final words to those around him. Amid a deathly silence, the most human dialogue unfolds with his mother and the disciple:
Jesus: “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple: “Here is your mother.”
After uttering, “It is finished,” Jesus gives up his spirit, concluding the cycle of physical suffering of the ordeal.
The Descent from the Cross
Once Jesus is dead, the stage is cleared of The Jews, and the atmosphere shifts. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Saint John, and the Virgin Mary appear with the tools for the Descent from the Cross (a ladder, a shroud, a hammer, and pincers).
With extreme care, they lower the body and place it in his mother’s lap, who covers it with her cloak. This is the moment of the Pietà, a scene of artistic beauty that reminds us that in Verges, tragedy is told with heartfelt emotion.
The Finale in Verges: The Dance of Death’s Adoration
It’s important to remember that the burial is not represented on the streets of Verges. The procession ends at this point with the adoration by the Dance of Death before the body of Jesus in Mary’s arms. This act of respect precedes the final Surrender of Death inside the church.
