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

Ma setax jonqos li ż-Żejtun li jinsab tefgħa ta' ġebla l’bogħod mill-Kottonera, jkun l-ewwel Parroċċa li tiddakkar mit-tradizzjoni tal-kommemorazzjoni tal-passjoni ta' Sidna Ġesu' Kristu u niesu jibdew jorganizzaw il-purċissjoni tal-Ġimgħa l-Kbira. Żgur li sal-1742, din kienet diġa' toħroġ mill-Knisja Parrokjali ddedikata lil Santa Katerina ta' Lixandra, Verġni u Martri.

Bħal kullimkien, il-purċissjoni fil-passat kienet ħafna aktar penitenzjali minn dik li naraw illum. Fil-fatt, sa l-aħħar gwerra, l-uniċi żewġ persunaġġi Bibliċi li kienu jieħdu sehem kienu Nikodemu u Ġużeppi ta' Arimatea. Ma kull vara kienu jimxu sett ta' fratelli u tfal lebsin iż-żimarri b'kulur differenti minn dawk ta' vara oħra. Il-fratelli kienu jerfgħu gandilabri sbieħ mixgħula bix-xemgħa waqt li t-tfal iġorru s-simboli tal-Passjoni. Il-Vara tar-Redentur kienet tiġbed warajha għadd kbir ta' Penitenti b'wicchom mgħammad ikaxkru l-ktajjen. Kien hemm ukoll it-tradizzjoni li wara l-Monument jimxu żewġt irġiel idoqqu l-vjolini u jkantaw il-'Miserere'.
 
Mill-1960 'l hawn, il-purċissjoni ħadet spinta kbira l-quddiem u nbiddlet f'pagaent b'numru kbir ta' persunaġġi Bibliċi, ċenturjuni u suldati Rumani. Żdiet bil-bosta l-armar u t-tiżjin li jintuża waqt il-purċissjoni. Jieħdu sehem ukoll iż-żewġ baned taż-Żejtun li jdoqqu marċi funebri u jkomplu jżidu l-atmosfera ta' niket f'dan il-jum tant għażiż għalina l-Kattoliċi. Mhux anqas minn ħames mitt ruħ jieħdu sehem f'din il-purċissjoni.
 
Għalkemm illum il-ġurnata, iż-Żejtun flimkien ma' Ħal Qormi huwa l-lokal li għandu l-akbar ammont ta' vari b'sett ta' tnax, tajjeb ngħidu li sal-1960, kont issib seba' vari biss. Minn dak iż-żmien żdiedu l-vari tat-tradiment ta' Ġuda (1961), Pilatu jippreżenta lil Ġesu' lill-Lhud (1962), il-Vara ta' Kristu mgħejun miċ-Ċirinew (1962 u mibdula riċentement), id-Depożizzjoni (1965) u Ġesu' mżeblaħ waqt il-flaġellazzjoni (1985). Fiż-Żejtun insibu forsi aktar minn postijiet oħra taħlita ta' xogħol ta' statwarji lokali u barranin. Ta' min isemmi wkoll il-bradelli u l-bankuni tal-kewba li fihom xogħol ta' interzjar sabiħ immens u li jikkumplimenta dan is-sett ta' vari. Fil-kantunieri, il-bradelli jiżżejnu bi brazzi artistiċi tal-metall abjad bi globi ħelwin li jinxtegħlu bix-xemgħa.

L-informazzjoni fuq din l-ewwel Vara taż-Żejtun hija kemmxejn skarsa. X'aktarx li hi l-eqdem vara f'din il-lokalita u l-probabbilta hi li kienet diġa teżisti qabel l-1800. Ma nafux min hu l-awtur tal-figura ta' Kristu li hi tal-kartapesta imma l-anġlu huwa xogħol aktar riċenti maħdum fl-injam mill-istatwarju Żejtuni Alessandro Farrugia  (1781-1871).  

  This statue is thought to be the oldest in the Zejtun set, and probably existed before the the year 1800. The author of the figure of Jesus is unknown but the angel on the right, was carved in wood by Xandru Farrugia (1781-1871).Thought to be the oldest in the Zejtun set, this statue probably existed before the the year 1800. The author of the figure of Jesus is unknown but the angel on the right, was carved in wood by Xandru Farrugia (1781-1871).Thought to be the oldest in the Zejtun set, this statue probably existed before the the year 1800. The author of the figure of Jesus is unknown but the angel on the right, was carved in wood by Xandru Farrugia (1781-1871).Thought to be the oldest in the Zejtun set, this statue probably existed before the the year 1800. The author of the figure of Jesus is unknown but the angel on

Din il-vara tal-kartapesta nġiebet minn Lecce, l-Italja fl-1961, xogħol ta' Angelo Capoccia. Hija kopja ta' statwa tal-irħam li wieħed jista' jara fis-santwarju ta' l-Iscala Santa f'Ruma. Ta' min jgħid li din kienet it-tieni vara tat-tradiment ta' Ġuda f'Malta wara dik ta' Hal Qormi.

This is the work of Angelo Capoccia and was imported from Lecce Italy in 1961. It is a replica of a marble sculpture which is exibited in the sanctuary of Rome’s Scala Santa.This is the work of Angelo Capoccia and was imported from vvv

Il-Marbut huwa meqjus minn bosta bħalha l-aktar vara artistika fis-sett taż-Żejtun u ġie skolpit fl-injam minn Alessandro Farrugia  fl-1839. Ma nafux jekk dan ħax post xi vara aktar antika.

This solitary figure of Jesus is widely considered as the most artistic in the Zejtun set.  It is another wooden sculpture by Xandru Farrugia from 1839.This solitary figure of Jesus is widely considered as the most artistic in the Zejtun set.  It

Din il-Vara artistika  nħaddmet bil-kartapesta mill-istatwarju Alfred Camilleri Cauchi  fl-1985. Hadet post oħra iżgħar maħduma minn Wistin Camilleri li jiġi missier Alfred. Nafu li qabel il-vara tal-llum kien hemm mill-anqas tlieta oħra tal-istess misteru.

This is the latest addition to this set of statues. It is the work of Alfred Camilleri Cauchi from 1985.  It replaces at least three former versions , the latest being a smaller one made by Alfred’s  father Wistin.

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Fiż-Żejtun insibu t-tieni vara tal-Ecce Homo li turina lil Pilatu jippreżenta lil Kristu lill-miġemgħa. Din hija Vara oħra li saret min Angelo Capoccia ta' Lecce u waslet Malta fl-1962. Hija wkoll replika ta statwa tal-irħam li hemm fl-Iscala Santa ta' Ruma.

It is only here in Zejtun where the ‘Ecce Homo’ (Behold the Man) is featured twice. This time Jesus is seen standing alongside Pontius Pilate as he is presented to the crowd of Jews. This statue is again a replica of a marble statue and the work of Angelo Capoccia from 1962.

Din il-Vara devota hija attribwita lill-istatwarju Karlu Darmanin . Is-salib huwa xogħol ta' interzjar fil-kewba maħdum tant tajjeb miż-Żejtuni Mose' Dalmas. Il-finimenti tal-fidda huma wkoll xogħol l-istess Dalmas. Dan ir-Redentur ħa post wieħed aktar antik li wieħed għadu jista jarah f'niċċa fit-triq li miż-Żejtun tieħu għal Marsaxlokk.

The statue of the Redeemer seen here replaced the one which is now conserved in a niche’ in the main road leading from Marsaxlokk to Zejtun. It is regarded to be the work of Karlu Darmanin.

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Here we see another work by contemporary artist Alfred Camilleri Cauchi.  It depicts the moment when Jesus was relieved from carrying the cross to Calvary by Simon from Cyrene accompanied by his two young children.  This statue replaced a similar one (pictured above) , imported from Lecce Italy in 1962, which had succumbed to woodworm infestation.xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx

Hija ħasra li ma nafux min ħadem din l-istatwa artistika u meta saret. Għalkemm m'hemm xejn fiz-żgur, xi wħud jattribwixxu din il-Veronika lil Karlu Darmanin.

There are no records of when or who made this artistic statue of The Veronica although it is thought by some to have been the work of Karlu Darmanin.

The figures  beneath the cross are the work of Karlu Darmanin, but there are no records as to the origins of the figure of Jesus, which in itself is quite particular as Jesus’ head is hung down and lifeless . It is also evident that the crucifix is much older than the figures made by Darmanin.

This is one of only two similar occurencies of this episode in the Passion of Jesus, the other found in Qormi.  Again this is another import from Lecce and made by Angelo Capoccia in 1965.

Nafu li l-korp ta' Kristu mejjet (ritratt xellug) magħmul mill-kartapesta nġieb minn barra, x'aktarx minn Spanja iżda ma nafux meta. Is-sodda Monumentali li naraw illum ħadet post waħda aktar antika u nħaddmet ftit qabel l-aħħar gwerra dinjija. L-anġli li jżejjnu l-kantunieri saru mill-istatwarju Wistin Camilleri . Ix-xogħol sabiħ tar-rakkmu tad-deheb sar kollu mis-sorijiet tal-istitut ta' Ġesu' Nażżarenu fiż-Żejtun.xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx The figure of the dead Christ, made from papier-mache’, was probably imported from Spain but its date is yet unknown. The angels at each corner are the work of Wistin Camilleri.xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx 

Ta' min jgħid li matul iż-żmien, kien hemm bdil kontinwu bejn il-figuri ta' San Ġwann u anġlu. Fil-fatt, fil-bidu tas-seklu għoxrin kien hemm anġlu bil-wieqfa li għall-ħabta ta' l-ewwel gwerra nbidel ma dak li konna naraw sal-2002. Ftit qabel l-aħħar gwerra, dan l-anġlu reġa nbidel ma' figura ta' San Ġwann xogħol Wistin Camilleri li iżda ma jidhirx li ntogħġob u reġa nbidel mal-anġlu wara sentejn.

The real origins of this statue of Our Lady of Sorrows are not clear, though it is often believed that it could be another Italian import from Lecce.  The figure of Saint John is a recent addition from 2003 by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi.   Interestingly, this figure had also once been sculpted by Alfred’s father a few years before the last World war .