Holy Week In Guatemala: Jesus Nazarene Of The Mercy Parish, First Consecrated Image In America And Sworn Patron Against Calamities. The Origin Of The Image Of Jesus Nazarene Of Mercy Is On March 27, 1655, A Holy Saturday, As Sculptor Mateo De Zuniga Delivered It To The Brotherhood Of Jesus Nazarene Of The Mercy Parish, Which Was Immediately Placed For Public Veneration. In 1717 The Image Was Consecrated, Being The First To Be So In The Continent. That Same Year, The City Suffered A Calamity Due To An Eruption By The Fire Volcano. Chronicles Point Out That The Image Was Carried Out In Procession, To Pray For The Calamity To Stop. In 1721, The Brotherhood Requested The City Council To Declare The Image As `Sworn Patron Against Floods, Fires, Plagues, Earthquakes And Other Calamities`, Being Approved In Ten Days. Besides Processions Of Holy Week, The Image Has Been Carried Out Eight Times Due To Some Major Calamities. In 2021, The Festivities For The 300 Years As Sworn Patron Where Held With Masses, Special Programs And Funeral Marches Held Behind Closed Doors And Posted On Social Media, Due To The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Holy Week In Guatemala Is The Celebration Of The Passion And Death Of Christ, Through The Processions Carried Out By The Brotherhoods Of All Parishes Nationwide, Between Palm Sunday And Easter Sunday. Processions Are Characterized By Colorful Sawdust Carpets That Adorn The Streets, And Images Of Jesus And Mary Carried On Shoulders By Large Congregations For Periods Of Up To Eighteen Hours. The Pandemic Forced The Suspension Of Processions For Two Years, Returning These In 2022.

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