The Procession of the Dead Christ, in Chieti, takes place on Good Friday and is one of the most emotional and heartfelt celebrations in all of Italy: through the streets of the city moves the hooded procession of the ancient Brotherhoods, among the splendor of 19th-century wooden statues and the moving Miserere raised by a hundred male voices and violins.
The Procession of the Dead Christ is an integral part of the popular feeling of Chieti, to the point that not even the threat of German troops during the Second World War managed to stop it: it is a ritual born in the year 842, deeply rooted in the most genuine Abruzzo traditions, still overseen by the Archconfraternity of the Sacred Mount of the Dead.
At the first signs of sunset, the city – illuminated by candles lit by thousands of faithful and by tripods placed along the streets – prepares to see paraded the wooden statues symbolizing the Passion of Jesus and the depiction of the most important moments of the Way of the Cross.
These works of art, dating back to 1855, depict the angel, the purse, the lances, the rooster, the ladder, the pincers and, of course, the Cross.
At the edges of the streets, from balconies overlooking the route, silk drapes, precious blankets and fine fabrics are displayed as a sign of devotion.
Meanwhile, the procession grows with faithful and participants, hooded figures wearing the attire belonging to each Brotherhood.
The strongest and most important focal point is obviously the passage of the Dead Christ, barely covered by a precious white veil, placed on a coffin wrapped in black velvet with gold embroidery. This fascinating work of art, a prominent element of the Procession of the Dead Christ, is carried on the shoulders of members of the Archconfraternity of the Good Death.
Right behind, here is the statue of the Sorrowful Virgin continuing on the Holy route, while the notes of the Miserere by Saverio Selecchy can be heard diffusely.
The Procession of the Dead Christ in Chieti is a popular, artistic, religious event; an occasion to experience feelings of devotion with traditions rooted over the centuries.
