rites | protagonists | calendar of events | origins and meanings | curiosities
PROTAGONISTS
- 24 people from the S. Croce Confraterity organize this procession. They are divided into 2 groups: Apostuli and Li Cantori. Twelve Apostuli, the brothers who have been chosen to carry the Mysteries. They wear white tunics with tight strings around their waists. Their heads are hidden by tall hoods, which have holes through which the Apostuli can see. This gives them the appearance of ancient penitents. Twelve Cantori (Singers), who form 3 different groups that accompany the procession. The songs are: Lu Miserere, Lu Stabat, Lu Iesu. The lyrics of these songs, unchanged over the centuries, date from the Medieval period.
- The Basilica of Santa Maria di Tergu is the stage for these sacred rites. This beautiful Roman Basilica was built by Benedictines from Montecassino at the end of the XI century.
- The so called Mysteries of Christ’s Passion and Death which are: lu caligi (the chalice), la guanta (the glove), la caddena (the chain), la culunna (the column), li disciplini (the whip), la curona, la crogi (the cross), la scala, lu malteddu e tinaglia (the hammer and pincers), la lancia and spugna (the spear and the sponge).
- The beautiful emotive polyphonic hymns which are sung in Medieval style, but their melodies are linked to the Sardinian vocal tradition. Each group of singers has 4 different tonalities: bassu (bass), contra (bariton), bogi (tenor), falsittu (countertenor).