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

Ħadd ma jista jgħid b’ċertezza meta bdiet il-purċissjoni tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Nistgħu nimmaġinaw li f’raħal daqstant antik (kien diġa’ Parroċċa fl-1436), id-devozzjoni lejn il-passjoni u l-mewt ta Kristu dejjem kienet qawwija. Minn dokumentazzjoni tal-istoriku Żebbuġi, Dun Salv Ciappara, nafu li sal-1742, mastru Saverio Laferla  kien diġa’ ħadem numru ta’ vari tal-kartapesta għal din il-Parroċċa. Dan iżda ma jfissirx li bilfors dawn kienu jinħarġu f’purċissjoni. Li nafu hu li kienet issir purċissjoni bil-Monument mill-Knisja Parrokjali għall-Kappella tal-Madonna tal-Grazzja fejn il-korp ta’ Kristu kien jitħalla sas-sena ta’ wara.    

L-evidenza dokumentata tmur lura sal-1824 biss. Ħawnhekk nafu li Dun Gio Battista Attard li kien il-prokuratur tal-Via Sagra ħabbrek biex ikabbar il-funzjonijiet tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira. Peress li f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ qatt ma kien hemm Fratellanza tal-Kurċifiss, jista jagħti l-kas li l-istess prokura tal-Via Sagra kienet tagħti sehemha fl-organizzazzjoni tal-purċissjoni tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira. Kien f’dan iż-żmien ukoll li nħaddmu xi vari mill-istatwarju Mosti Antonio Mifsud  u li anki ġew mogħnija b’indulġenzi mill-Arċisqof Mattei. Fl-istess żmien bdiet il-ħjata tad-damask l-iswed għall-Knisja Parrokjali. Għall-ħabta tal-1840 sar Monument (ara tagħrif dwar il-Monument aktar l-isfel).   

Il-purċissjoni kif nafuha llum tmur lura sal-1973. Dik is-sena ġie deċiż li numru ta’ persunaġġi bibliċi u suldati Rumani jibdew jieħdu sehem fil-purċissjoni. Għalhekk ġie meħjut l-ilbies li tħallas mill-individwi li kienu se jilbsuhom stess.Din l-inizzjattiva ntlaqgħet tajjeb ħafna u matul is-snin baqa’ jiżdied il-vestwarju u l-oġġetti simboliċi li jinġarru waqt il-purċissjoni. Jieħdu sehem kemm irġiel kif ukoll nisa minbarra t-tfal. Illum l-ammont ta’ nies li jieħdu sehem fil-purċissjoni jiżboq il-ħames mija.

Fis-sett ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ insibu għaxar vari li jiżżejnu b’mod partikulari ħafna, bix-xemgħat twal jalternaw ma vażuni bil-fjuri madwar il-vara kollha.  

Il-Purċissjoni tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira f'Ħaż-Żebbuġ  

Il-Ġimgħa 2 t'April 2010 fis-5.00pm 

Din il-Vara nħaddmet mill-istatwarju  Giuseppe Caruana  fl-1955. Hija xogħol fil-kartapesta li ħadet post vara ferm aktar antika imma li ma setgħetx tiġi rranġata wara li tmermret għal kollox.

 This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had deteriorated beyond repair.This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had deteriorated beyond repair. This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had deteriorated beyond repair.This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had deteriorated beyond repair.This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had deteriorated beyond repair.This statue is the work of Giuseppe Caruana from 1955. It replaced a much older one which had

The three figures of Jesus, Judas and St Peter on this statue are the work of Glormu Dingli from 1978. It is only here and in the village of Naxxar where St Peter features in this episode of the Passion. The three figures of Jesus, Judas and St Peter on this statue are the work of Glormu Dingli from 1978. It is only here and in the village of The three figures of Jesus, Judas and St Peter on this statue are the work of Glormu Dingli from 1978. It is only here and in the village of ffjfjfjfjf jfjfjfjf fffff

The figure of Jesus in this statuary group is from the original set of statues by Antonio Mifsud in 1826. The solitary figure of Jesus remained unchanged  (as pictured above - left) up to 1985 when Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the figure of the flogger behind Jesus.The figure of Jesus in this statuary group is from the original set of statues by Antonio Mifsud in 1826. The solitary figure of Jesus remained unchanged  (as pictured above - left) up to 1985 when Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the figure of the flogger behind Jesus.The figure of Jesus in this statuary group is from the original set of statues by Antonio Mifsud in 1826. The solitary figure of Jesus remained unchanged  (as pictured above - left) up to 1985 when Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the figure of the flogger behind Jesus.The figure of Jesus in this statuary group is from the original set of statues by Antonio Mifsud in 1826. The solitary figure of Jesus mmm

L-Ecce Homo ta' Haż-Żebbuġ hija l-unika vara ta' dan il-misteru f'Malta li għandha erba' persunaġġi. Madankollu, iż-żidiet saru matul iz-zmien. Kristu huwa xogħol l-istatwarju Mosti Antonio Mifsud  (in-najċi) li għall-ħabta tal-1826 kien ħadem numru ta' vari għal dan il-lokal. Il-figura tas-suldat Ruman zdiedet fl-1987 u nħaddmet mill-istatwarju ta' zmienna,  Michael Camilleri Cauchi . Tiegħu ukoll huma l-figuri ta' Pilatu u l-paġġ tiegħu, xogħol li tlesta fl-1997.

This is another work by Antonio Mifsud which dates back to 1826. Again, as in the previous statue of the flagellation, additional figures where commissioned  to artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi. The Roman soldier was completed  in 1987 while Pontius Pilate was completed 1997.This is another work by Antonio Mifsud which dates back to 1826. Again, as in the previous statue of the flagellation, additional figures where commissioned  to artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi. The Roman soldier was completed  in 1987 while Pontius Pilate was completed 1997.This is another work by Antonio Mifsud which dates back to 1826. Again, as in the previous statue of the dddddddd

Sal-1990, din il-Vara kienet toħroġ bil-figura tal-Veronika waħedha. Din hi xogħol bil-kartapesta ta' Giuseppe Caruana  u saret fl-1954 peress li l-vara oriġinali tal-1826 kienet tmermret għal kollox. L-istatwi ta' Kristu mgħobbi bis-salib u l-mara ta' Ġerusalemm inħadmu bil-kartapesta mill-istatwarju Michael Camilleri Cauchi  u tlestew fl-1990.

This statuary group is again composed by the works of two different artists.  The figure of St Veronika is the work of Giuseppe Caruana which dates back to 1954. Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the statues of Jesus and The Woman from Jerusalem in 1990.This statuary group is again composed by the works of two different artists.  The figure of St Veronika is the work of Giuseppe Caruana which dates back to 1954. Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the statues of Jesus and The Woman from Jerusalem in 1990. This statuary group is again composed by the works of two different artists.  The figure of St Veronika is the work of Giuseppe Caruana which dates back to 1954. Michael Camilleri Cauchi added the

Din il-Vara hija xogħol Spanjol u nġiebet Malta fl-1960. Ir-Redentur ta' qabel (ara ritratt bl-iswed u l-abjad) kien meqjus daqxejn goff għal mal-kumplament tas-sett u kellu ħsarat kbar.

The statue of the Redeemer was imported from Spain in 1960.  The one present before this date was considered to be too large in comparison to the rest of the set and  had  also suffered considerable damages throughout  the years.The statue of the Redeemer was imported from Spain in 1960.  The one present before this date was considered to be too large in comparison to the rest of the set and  had  also suffered considerable damages throughout  the years. The statue of the Redeemer was imported from Spain in 1960.  The one present before this date was considered to be too large in comparison to the rest of the set and  had  also suffered considerable damages throughout  the years.The statue of the Redeemer was imported from Spain in 1960.  The one present before this date was considered to be too large in comparison to the rest of the set and  had  also suffered

Din il-vara tippreżentalna lil Xmun iċ-Ċirinew flimkien maż-żewġ uliedu iħarsu lejn Kristu. Dan huwa xogħol bil-kartapesta ta' Glormu Dingli  u tlesta fl-1964. Is-salib li qed iġorr Xmun huwa tal-kewba u sar minn Filippu Camilleri.

This statue  represents the moment when Simon of Cyrene was ordered by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry the heavy cross up to Calvary. Apart from the figures of Jesus and Simon,  Glormu Dingli also included Simon’s two sons.  Work  on this statuary group was completed in 1964. This statue  represents the moment when Simon of Cyrene was ordered by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry the heavy cross up to Calvary. Apart from the figures of Jesus and Simon,  Glormu Dingli also included Simon’s two sons.  Work  on this statuary group was completed in 1964This statue 

Il-Vara l-Kbira ta' Haż-Żebbuġ hija kkunsidrata opra ta' ġmiel. Din għadha mis-sett oriġinali tal-1826 u għalhekk xogħol il-Mosti Antonio Mifsud  għalkemm matul is-snin inżebgħet diversi drabi.

This statuary group is considered by many as a true work of art. It  formed part of the orignal set of statues commssioned to Antonio Mifsud and dated back to 1826. 

Kif jingħad fl-introduzzjoni għal din il-lokalita, il-purċissjoni f'Haż-Żebbuġ bdiet bil-Monument. Madankollu, dak li naraw illum m'huwiex l-oriġinali għax dan kien inbidel fl-1840. Il-qafas tal-Monument sar fuq disinn tal-professur Ġorg Pullicino filwaqt li x-xogħol tal-injam sar mill-mastrudaxxa Żebbuġi Saver Micallef. Il-Monument ġie ndurat diversi drabi bl-aħħar darba mid-ditta Darmanin tal-Belt lejn tmiem is-seklu għoxrin. Fl-1971 id-drapp tiegħu li hu kollu bellus  u purtieri u galluni ġie mibdul għal wieħed ġdid. L-anġli li jdawwru l-urna huma attribwiti lil Karlu Darmanin  u ħadu post erba' inċensiera li kien hemm qabel. Il-korp ta' Kristu preżenti ġie maħdum fl-injam mill-iskultur Pontifiċju Ferdinando Perithonier f'Bolzano, l-Italja fl-1960.

The body of the dead Christ we see here is a wooden sculpture by Ferdinando Perithonier of Bolzano in Italy from 1960.  The four angels at each corner are thought to be the work of Karlu Darmanin. Before these angels were introduced,  each of the four corners was embellished by an incense burner. The wooden structure, designed by Gorg Pullicino, dates back to 1840 and has been restored and gilded on a number of occasions.

Our Lady of Sorrows , in the various sets of statues around the islands, is  seen comforted by either the figure of Saint John or an angel.  It is only here in Zebbug in Malta that we see both of these figures present.  This statue is very old and is the work of Saverio Laferla from 1742.  Towards the year 1960, the statues were modified and repainted by Guzeppe Caruana.