Il-Vari Tal-Gimgha L-Kbira F'Malta

It-tradizzjoni marbuta mal-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa f'Ħal Qormi hija antika ħafna iżda l-ewwel referenza dokumentata ta' purċissjoni toħodna lura għas-sena 1764. Dik is-sena, nafu li l-purċissjoni kienet diġa' tinkludi numru ta' vari tal-passjoni u din tindika b'mod ċar li l-oriġini tagħha setgħet kienet ħafna qabel. Nafu li lejn l-aħħar tas-seklu tmintax, f'Ħal Qormi kienu jsiru kull Ħadd tar-Randan, ħames purċissjonijiet biex jitfakkru l-ħames misteri tat-tbatija u f'kull purċissjoni kienet toħroġ il-vara li tirrappreżenta dak il-misteru. Għalhekk, sa dak iż-żmien, diġa’ kien hemm il-vari tal-Ort, il-Marbut, l-Ecce Homo, ir-Redentur u l-Veronika li kienu joħorġu flimkien u l-Vara tal-kruċifissjoni. F'Ħadd il-Palm, imbagħad kienet issir purċissjoni bil-vari kollha li f'xi żmien bdiet issir fil-ġurnata proprja tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira. Il-purċissjoni tad-Duluri kienet issir il-Ġimgħa ta' qabel il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira bħalma għadha ssir sal-lum. F'Ħal Qormi, il-purċissjoni kienet tiġi organiżżata mill-Fatellanza tas-Sagrament u mill-Fratellanza tar-Rużarju.

Il-Purċissjoni fl-antik kienet tkun waħda devozzjonali u penitenzjali għall-aħħar.Jissemmew penitenti lebsin l-abjad jew l-iswed b'rashom mgħammda u jġorru l-ktajjen bħala wegħda għal xi grazzja maqlugħa jew Penitenza. Jista jkun ukoll għalkemm m'hemm xejn fiċ-ċert li bħal f'lokalitajiet oħra, f'Ħal Qormi kien ikun hemm il-battuti li kienu nies li  jsawwtu lilhom infushom bħala penitenza. Dawn madankollu kienu inqatgħu f'Malta kollha matul is-seklu dsatax.

Kien għall-bidu tas-seklu għoxrin li bdew jidhru l-persunaġġi Bibliċi fil-purċissjoni u jidher li Ħal Qormi kien wieħed mill-pijunieri biex titkattar din it-tradizzjoni. Wieħed minn nies li ħadem ħafna biex il-purċissjoni tieħu l-forma ta' pagaent li naraw illum kien l-Arċipriet Dun Gerard Frendo u dan fis-snin ħamsin tas-seklu għoxrin.

Kien hemm żmien fejn gruppi ta' nies partikulari kellhom id-dritt fuq l-irfiegħ ta' xi vari. Sa mill-1995, l-irfiegħ tal-vari jinsab f-idejn il-ħames Fratellanzi li hemm fil-Parroċċa. Kull fratellanza ikollha gaj f'ħames vari li jiġu kull sena alternati biex b'hekk kullħadd ikollu ċans jerfa’ f'kull vara tul is-snin. Ta' min jgħid li Ħal Qormi, bi tnax il-vara, hemm bżonn ta' mija u għoxrin reffiegħ. Din iżda mhix problema għax fil-fatt ikun hemm id-doppju ta' daqshekk li jkunu jixtiequ jerfgħu f'xi vara. Ir-reffiegħa jridu jieħdu ħsieb huma u bi flushom biex jarmaw il-vari u jsibu n-nies għall-forċini. Il-vari jiġu mżejjna artistikament bil-ward u jinxtegħlu bid-dawl matul it-triq tal-purċissjoni.

Il-Purċissjoni tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira f'Ħal Qormi

Il-Ġimgħa 2 t'April 2010 fil-5.30pm 

Huwa biss f'Ħal Qormi u ż-Żebbug Għawdex fejn insibu il-vara tal-Aħħar Ċena. Ħal Qormi ntroduċieha f'Malta fl-1961 u nġiebet minn Bari, l-Italja, xogħol ta' Salvatore Bruno. Il-kalċi f'idejn Kristu huwa tal-fidda miksi bid-deheb u kien ta' Dun Beneditt Axisa.

  This large statuary group consisting of thirteen figures, is only present here in Qormi and in Zebbug Gozo.  It is an Italian import, the work of Salvatore Bruno from Bari, and first  joined the procession in 1961.

 M'għandniex dokumentat eżatt meta saret din il-vara għal Ħal Qormi iżda din dehret xi snin wara l-1878. Ta' min jgħid li dak iż-żmien ma kien xejn komuni li tara vara tal-Ort b'żewġ anġli ifarrġu lil Kristu. Fil-fatt, vara b'żewġ anġli kienet saret biss għal Bormla fl-1878 u peress li din kienet xogħol mastru Karlu Darmanin , ħafna jattribwixxu l-vara ta' Hal Qormi lill-istess statwarju. Hemm oħrajn, iżda, li jsostnu li din tista tkun xogħol Vincenzo Cremona  li wara kollox jingħad li  kien tgħallem is-sengħa mingħand l-istess Darmanin.

There are  no records confirming the exact  origins of this beautiful statue, but it appears to have been present sometime after 1878.  There are many who claim it might be the work of Karlu Darmanin, due to the fact that Darmanin had sculpted a similar one, also bearing two angels, for the Cospicua parish in 1878.  Others claim it might be the work of Vincenzo Cremona ,  who was in fact, a scholar of Darmanin himself.

Hal Qormi kien l-ewwel lokalita li fl-1908 daħħal il-Vara tat-tradiment ta' Ġuda fil-gżejjer Maltin u baqa' uniku sal-1961 meta saret oħra għaż-Żejtun. Il-vara hija xogħol sabiħ tal-kartapesta,  waħda mill-aħħar vari li ħallielna mastru Karlu Darmanin  qabel ħalla dan il-wied ta' dmugħ.

Qormi was first to introduce this important episode in the Passion of Christ and the work was entrusted to  Karlu Darmanin who completed the statue in 1908. It was to be one of the last works by Darmanin just before his demise. Suffice to say the statue remained unique until 1961, when a similar one was introduced by the parish of Zejtun. 

Il-vara tal-Marbut li toħroġ illum hija xogħol l-istatwarju Alfred Camilleri Cauchi  u saret fl-1981. Turina lil Kristu qed jinħall minn mal-kolonna imdawwar b'zewġ manigoldi. Din il-vara ħadet post oħra (ara ritratt taħt) li kienet ukoll bi tliet figuri u li kienet nġiebet mingħand Salvatore Bruno ta' Bari fl-1962 li iżda ma kelliex ħajja twila. Tajjeb jingħad li qabel l-1962, Hal Qormi diġa' kellhom vara bi Kristu waħdu marbut mal-kolonna kif tradizzjonalment narawh.

This unique statuary group is the work of Alfred Camilleri Cauchi from 1981. Here we see Jesus being untied from the column , following his ordeal, by two of his floggers.  This statue replaced another one also bearing three figures , which had been imported from Bari Italy in 1962 but had deteriorated beyond repair. This statue replaced another one also bearing three figures, which had been imported from Bari Italy in 1962 but had deteriorated beyond repair.This statue  b

L-Ecce Homo ta' Hal Qormi, għal darb'oħra vara bi tliet figuri, saret ukoll minn Alfred Camilleri Cauchi  sena wara l-Marbut jiġifieri fl-1982. Ta' min jgħid li din hi l-unika vara f'Malta fejn jidher il-qassis il-kbir. Il-vara ta qabel din kienet ukoll ta' Bari (ara ritratt taħt).

Similarly to  the previous episode , Alfred Camilleri Cauchi was again commissioned to replace another work imported from Bari, and he completed this work in 1982. This statue is the only one on the islands which includes the figure of the Jews’ high priest.Similarly to  the previous episode , Alfred Camilleri Cauchi was again commissioned to replace another work imported from Bari, and he completed this work in 1982. This statue is the only one on the islands which includes the figure of the Jews’ high priest. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil- 

Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qiegħda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbiha għadha esposta għall-pubbliku fil-knisja Matrici ta' San Ġorġ Martri. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qieghda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbieha ghadha esposta ghall-pubbliku fil-knisja Matrici ta' San Gorg Martri. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qieghda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbieha ghadha esposta ghall-pubbliku fil-knisja Matrici ta' San Gorg Martri. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qieghda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbieha ghadha esposta ghall-pubbliku fil-knisja Matrici ta' San Gorg Martri. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qieghda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbieha ghadha esposta ghall-pubbliku fil-knisja Matrici ta' San Gorg Martri. Fl-antik, Hal Qormi kellhom Ecce Homo tradizzjonali, bi Kristu nkurunat bix-xewk bil-qieghda fuq kolonna. Din ix-xbieha ghadha esposta

Għalkemm m'hemm xejn b'ċertezza, jingħad li dan ir-Redentur sar xi żmien wara l-1887 u hu attribwit lil mastru Karlu Darmanin . Fatt kurjuż u nteressanti ħareġ fid-dawl waqt l-aħħar restawr li sar minn Alfred Camilleri Cauchi fl-1986. Instab li taħt il-qoxra tal-istatwa preżenti kien hemm Redentur ieħor sħiħ għajr għar-ras. Dan jagħtina x'nifhmu li l-istatwarju uża r-Redentur il-qadim bħala qafas biex jagħmel il-ġdid, forsi biex ikabbar il-qies tal-istatwa. Dawn imma huma kollha supposizzjonijiet.

This statue is thought to have been the work of Karlu Darmanin sometime after the year 1887, although no sufficient records exist to this regard. It underwent extensive restoration by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi in 1986. This statue is thought to have been the work of Karlu Darmanin sometime after the year 1887, although no sufficient records exist to this regard. It underwent extensive restoration by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi in 1986. This statue is thought to have been the work of Karlu Darmanin sometime after the year 1887, although no sufficient records exist to this regard.

Ix-xena ta' Ġesu' jiltaqa' m'ommu mhix komuni fil-purċissjonijiet tagħna u minbarra Hal Qormi narawha biss f'Raħal Ġdid u fix-Xagħra Għawdex. Il-vara li naraw illum hija xogħol sabiħ bil-kartapesta tal-istatwarju Alfred Camilleri Cauchi  u saret fl-1980. Is-salib tal-kewba sar mill-imgħallem Qormi Manwel Debono. Qabel din il-vara, kien hemm oħra (ara ritratt taħt) li kienet inġiebet mingħand Salvatore Bruno ta' Bari flimkien ma dik tal-Aħħar Ċena fl-1961. Madankollu, din bdiet titmermer u ġie deċiż li tinbidel.

This episode which marks  the 4th station of the Cross, when the Lord Jesus meets his Mother Mary on His way to Calvary, is quite uncommon in the processions around the islands. It is  only found here, in Paola and Xaghra Gozo.   This is again the work of Alfred Camilleri Cauchi from 1980 , in replacement of the former work of Salvatore Bruno from Bari which also succumbed to deterioration.  This episode which marks  the 4th station of the Cross, is quite uncommon in the processions around the islands and is only found here, in Paola and Xaghra Gozo.   This is again the work of Alfred Camilleri Cauchi from 1980 , in replacement of the former work ofSalvatore Bruno from Bari which also succumbed to deterioration

Għal darb'oħra din il-vara tippreżentalna novita' li ma ssibha mkien ieħor. F'vara waħda, l-istatwarju irnexxielu jdaħħal tliet episodji mill-passjoni, jiġifieri, il-laqgħa mal-Veronika, lil Xmun iċ-Ċirinew jerfa' s-salib u mara tirrappreżenta lin-nisa ta' Ġerusalemm.  Din il-vara ħadet post oħra minn ta' Bruno (ara ritratt taħt). Il-figura tal-Veronika hija xogħol li Karlu Darmanin  għamel lejn tmiem is-seklu dsatax u li kienet twarrbet mal-wasla tal-vara ta' Bruno. Il-figuri ta' Kristu, Xmun iċ-Ċirinew u l-mara bit-tifla f'idha huma xogħol Alfred Camilleri Cauchi  li lesta din il-vara fl-1981. Is-salib tal-kewba sar minn Salvu Borġ.

Here , we see a very innovative statuary group by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi which he completed in 1981. It represents the fifth, sixth and eighth stations of the Cross, shown together  in one ensemble. Camilleri Cauchi made all the paper-mache’ figures except for the statue of Saint Veronica which is the work of Karlu Darmanin . It  had been temporarily replaced by the work of Salvatore Bruno, which in turn was replaced by what we see here today. Here , we see a very innovative statuary group by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi which he completed in 1981. It represents the fifth, sixth and eighth stations of the Cross, shown together  in one ensemble. Camilleri Cauchi made all the paper-mache’ figures except for the statue

Lanqas ma nafu min ħadem il-figura tal-Madalena għalkemm hemm ħjiel li saret lejn nofs is-seklu dsatax, imma l-Madonna u San Ġwann huma attribwiti lil Karlu Darmanin . Dawn it-tliet figuri ġew restawrati l-aħħar fl-1982 u fl-istess żmien ġie llustrat mill-ġdid is-salib tal-Kurċifiss.

Records about this statuary group of the Crucifixion are very scarce but following restoration it was surmised that the crucifix could probably be an early eighteenth century work of  an unknown artist. The figures of St John and the Holy Mary are thought to be the work of Karlu Darmanin, but not much is yet known of the origins of the figure of Mary Magdalene, apart that it is probably a mid-nineteenth century work.Rnot much is yet known of the origins of the

Din il-Vara waslet fl-1965 fl-istess żmien li saret vara simili għall-lokalita taż-Żejtun. Fil-fatt, dawn huma l-uniċi żewġ vari tad-Depożizzjoni li nsibu fil-gżejjer Maltin. Din il-vara hija waħda mit-tnejn ta' Salvatore Bruno ta' Bari li rnexxielhom isalvaw (bl-oħra tkun l-Aħħar Ċena). Is-salib u ż-żewġ slielem huma xogħol tal-kewba maħduma minn Ġużeppi Mangion. Fl-1982, Nażżareno Darmanin illostra mill-ġdid is-salib. Ta' min jgħid li din hija l-itqal vara fis-sett ta' Hal Qormi, saħansitra itqal mill-Aħħar Ċena.

From the six statuary groups commissioned to Salvatore Bruno, only two survive to this day. This is one such group which first joined the Qormi  procession in 1965. Suffice to say that this representation of the 'Pieta' is the heaviest statue in Qormi,  even heavier than ‘The Last Supper' ; the other work by Bruno, still part of this set of processional statues.  From the six statuary groups commissioned to Salvatore Bruno, only two survive to this day. This is one such group which first joined the Qormi  procession in 1965. Suffice to say that this is the heaviest statue in Qormi,  even heavier than ‘The Last Supper' ; the other work by Bruno, still part of this set of

Il-Monument tal-llum mhux xogħol antik iżda dan ma jfissirx li ma kienx hemm Monumenti oħrajn qablu. Tant hu hekk, li l-korp ta' Kristu mejjet huwa xogħol antik li ma nafux min ħadmu u meta sar. Barra min hekk, għadek issib f'Hal Qormi xi bċejjeċ li kienu jżejjnu Monument antik. Għandna wkoll dokumentat li l-Monument kien jakkumpanja purċissjonijiet bikrin f'din il-lokalita. L-anġli li jdawruh huma attribwiti lil Vincenzo Cremona u lil Kalcidon Mangion  imma lanqas fuq dan m'hemm xejn ċert. Ta' min jinnota li kuntrarju għal postijiet oħra, id-drapp li jżejjen din l-Urna huwa fuq il-kulur abjad u mhux fuq l-aħmar kif soltu naraw. Il-Monument jiġi wkoll mżejjen b'sett sabiħ ta' brazzi bis-simboli tal-passjoni fuqhom

Although what we see here is not antique,  records show that similar statues of the Dead Body of Christ had been present in the earliest Good Friday  processions in this parish.  The figure of Christ though, is an antique work of an unknown artist and date. The four angels adorning each corner are thought to be the work of either Vincenzo Cremona or Kalcidon Mangion.

Jidher li fis-seklu tmintax, Hal Qormi bħall-Birgu kellhom il-wiċċ u l-idejn tal-istatwa u d-Duluri kienet titlibbes ħwejjeġ ta' veru. Maż-żmien dawn l-istess wiċċ u jdejn li kienu tal-istucco intużaw biex saret l-istatwa tal-kartapesta li naraw illum. L-anġlu li qed jakkumpanja lill-Madonna nġab minn Lecce lejn il-bidu tas-seklu għoxrin u ġie restawrat fl-1981.

Is-simboli tal-passjoni, l-istallett u s-sandli tal-Madonna huma miksija bid-deheb. Is-salib huwa tal-ebbanu bi skultura bassoriljiev fl-injam li nħadem minn Manwel Buhagiar fl-1920. 

It is thought that during the eighteenth century, alike the parish of Birgu, the parish of Qormi used a  face and two arms, made of stucco, as part of a mannequin of Our Lady of Sorrows , which was dressed with real garments for the procession. These same stucco parts  where later used to compose the paper-mache’ statue we see here today.  The angel to Our Lady’s right was imported from Lecce Italy towards the start of the twentieth century.