Our Lady of Bitterness Prays for Dana Victims During Alicante's Holy Week

Alicante prays during its Holy Week for the victims of the dana that devastated the province of Valencia last October. This will be done from the throne of Our Lady of Bitterness, where the brotherhood has decided to place votive candles. This gesture represents a prayer of supplication or a reminder, which in this case, they wish to dedicate to those who lost their lives in this natural disaster.

Therefore, in the procession of Our Lady of Bitterness, which opens the Holy Tuesday processions, one of the candles on the image will be painted with the Valencian Community flag in the form of a ribbon with the number of the deceased. "These candles are a way to have a prayer and a memory for them, we have done it in other tragedies and we hope not to have to bring them out much more," explains Antonio Martínez, the elder brother of the brotherhood.

This is not the first time this brotherhood pays tribute to the victims of a tragedy. In 2022, the first year after the pandemic pause that forced the cancellation of processions, Our Lady of Bitterness featured votive candles in memory of the COVID victims.

Moreover, in 2025 there will also be other tributes in this particular way: another of the large candles will display the Caritas emblem. This organization provides aid from the Church to families at risk of exclusion and among other things distributes food from the parishes of Alicante, including San Francisco de Padua, from where this procession departs. A candle will also be lit for the tenth anniversary of the new statue of Our Lady of Greater Pain, another of the brotherhood's processions on Holy Thursday, and another in memory of Saint Francis, commemorating the Franciscan origin of the brotherhood.

Among the main novelties that the images of this brotherhood present for the Alicante Holy Week 2025 is also a new robe for Our Lady of Bitterness. The garment is a donation from the embroiderer of Verdegas, Pilar Pérez. This professional is retiring this year after leaving a legacy of embroidered fabrics for this brotherhood. Therefore, as a final gift of devotion, she has donated a new robe to Our Lady embroidered in gold and with vegetal allusions.

The brotherhood has also enhanced the procession with silver-coloured metalwork on the side finishes that will adorn and give more presence to the procession.

The brotherhood is introducing a new role this year, that of Honorary Franciscan. The tribute is bestowed upon Vicente Mas Iborra, who was the 'alma mater' of El Sorell and has participated in the brotherhood since its inception. Mas was part of the board that initiated its creation. Additionally, as a young man, he studied with the Franciscans and always maintained his connection with the centre and the Brotherhood.

The Honorary Franciscan will be responsible for lighting the votive candle in homage to Saint Francis that Our Lady of Bitterness will carry on her throne. He will also have the important task of opening the doors to begin the procession.

For the Alicante Holy Week 2025, the Ecce-Homo also features new details. The brotherhood has carved four new coffered ceilings (two at the front and two at the back). This procession is one of the newest to parade through Alicante and continues to improve with details that the brothers add year after year.

The procession that the brotherhood of the Most Holy Ecce-Homo and Our Lady of Bitterness parades on Holy Thursday, Our Lady of Greater Pain, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. For the occasion, the candelabras of the Virgin have been restored and gilded. This was the first procession in the city of Alicante to be carried solely by women during Holy Week.

Additionally, Our Lady of Greater Pain features one of the most emotional moments on Holy Thursday in her encounter with the Christ of Peace in Ruperto Chapí Square, next to the Principal Theatre of Alicante. To witness it, one only needs to visit this cultural landmark of Alicante from 10:45 PM onwards.