The Last Supper in Verges is the scene where the apostles’ brotherhood is definitively shattered. As a central part of the Verges Passion Play on Maundy Thursday, the action moves to the Cenacle, where Jesus shares his final meal with the twelve disciples. This moment is known for its unique dramatic realism, especially when tension erupts after the announcement of betrayal.
The Washing of the Feet: A Lesson in Humility
Before the supper, the performance highlights a revolutionary gesture for the era. Jesus wraps a towel around his waist and begins to wash his disciples’ feet. In Verges, this moment is depicted with great care.
It is a visual lesson in **humility and service**: the Master acting as a servant. The resistance from Peter (“You will never wash my feet!”) and the firm reply from Jesus (“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me”) set the profound and doctrinal tone of this scene.
The Announcement of the Betrayal
As Jesus presides over the table, the tone of the scene changes abruptly when he announces that one of his disciples will hand him over. **Confusion grips the group**, and the apostles, one by one, ask in disbelief if they are the traitor. Characters like Peter and John show their absolute loyalty, asking the Master to reveal who could commit such an evil act.
The Iconic Moment: The Scorn of Judas
Judas Iscariot, the **last of the apostles** to speak, asks his question with resentment: “Master and Lord, tell me, could this traitor be me?”. Jesus’s response is devastating: “Yes.”
It is then that the most shocking gesture of the Last Supper in Verges occurs. Jesus offers him a piece of bread, inviting him to fulfill his destiny. Judas, in an act of total rebellion, takes the bread and throws it violently to the ground, exclaiming:
“No! I will throw it away before I eat it!”
After this malicious act of contempt, Judas **flees the Cenacle**, leaving the apostles stunned and in shock. His departure, often accompanied by a change in lighting or music, signals that the wheels of the arrest have been set in motion. He heads directly to the next scene: The Sanhedrin.
The Institution of the Eucharist
The core of the scene is the ultimate liturgical moment. Jesus blesses the bread and wine. This instant is observed with absolute respect in the town’s Main Square. It represents the birth of the Christian ritual, with the actors freezing their poses as the sacred verses are recited.
“Take this, all of you, and eat of it…”
The Farewell Discourse
The scene closes with Jesus’s final recommendations to his friends (“Love one another”). It is a moment of tenderness before the storm. Once the supper is over, the group heads towards the Garden of Gethsemane, leaving the empty table as a testament to what has just transpired.
Last updated: April 21, 2026
