Pedro García Hernández
Most likely, the procession on Good Friday night in 2018 was the last time the parade of “José de Arimathea”, from the Cofradía de La Samaritana, was seen parading through the streets of Cieza. As everyone knows, it is expected that in Holy Week 2022 the new passage "Santo Entierro" will be released, with Images made by the sculptor Antonio Jesús Yuste from Ciez and Throne by José Javier Bernal, also from Ciez. Although to reach this point, which makes us all very happy, courageous decisions had to be made beforehand and for many years, not without risk, which I briefly list to offer you another vision of what happened, so that can accurately judge the facts.
At the end of the 1980s, the Brotherhood of La Samaritana, like some others at that time, went through many difficulties, not only financial and a lack of members, but also a lack of projects that would excite their brothers. Bearing all these premises in mind, at the beginning of the 1990s, the members of the board of directors believed that the best way to change the fate of the Brotherhood itself would be to undertake the risky project of a step for the Holy Burial procession, in which did not participate yet; although many of his anderos did parade in it carrying the "Reclining" and, later, the "Soledad".
This is how the sculptural group "José de Arimathea" by Francisco Ortega arrived in Cieza in 1994, which in its first procession paraded on the throne of "La Samaritana" (her throne did not arrive until 1995, the work of the same author of the Images), a fact that was quite a feat for the anderos; not in vain, this throne is one of the heaviest of our processions. The brothers conspired to successfully finish that first outing, with many arrests and some tears. The spectators who witnessed the collection of the paso in the Casa de los Santos can affirm that there was an atmosphere of union, joy and satisfaction. It would not be too daring of me to say that this event was the seed of what was to come...
As it has been possible to verify throughout these last thirty years, the arrival of "José de Arimathea" was the beginning of a great change in the Brotherhood, a change for the better. Immediately the new velvet tunics and the new staffs for the Nazarenes were made, the new tergal tunics for the anderos, the restoration of the images of the titular group, "La Samaritana", and the heads of her throne, the new children's step , etc. The two activities that have been organized since 1996 were also created: the Samaritan of the Year and Samaritan of Honor Award Ceremony, and the Youth Soccer Trophy. As is evident, all these advances were achieved based on a lot of work.
However, as was to be expected considering the obstacles that La Samaritana had faced throughout its existence, at the beginning of the century the Brotherhood was forced to make a new decision that could put it in check.
The Junta de Hermandades Pasionarias was proposing a remodeling of the processions which included, among others, the elimination of the exit of the "La Samaritana" pass in the Procession of the Penitent, on Good Friday morning. The Brotherhood, which at that time was already thinking of changing the group of "José de Arimathea", was forced to decide between undertaking said replacement of the step for the Holy Burial procession and losing one of its exits (with the consequent disappointment of his brothers), or start a new project for the Procession of the Penitent, of which he had been a part since the 19th century, and postpone the change of “José de Arimathea”. Obviously, the Brotherhood opted for the second option. This is how the passage of “La Lanzada” by the Murcian sculptor José Antonio Hernández Navarro arrived in Cieza in 2006, with a throne by Bonifacio Pérez de Yébenes from Ciez. In addition, the new guide lanterns, the script, new staffs for the Tercio Infantil, etc., were released. Once again, the Samaritans decided to bet on their future with unity, work, and a lot of patience.
As soon as all the projects carried out in the first decade of this century were paid for, the Brotherhood began the procedures for the contracting of the new step for the definitive substitution, now yes, of the group of "José de Arimathea". Once again, with a lot of work, a lot of union and brotherly harmony; Not surprisingly, it is a very ambitious project that required the maximum involvement of all the members. I have no doubt that the arrival at Holy Week in Cieza of the passage of the "Holy Burial" will welcome the wait, and that the people of Cieza will know how to appreciate not only its artistic value but also its sentimental value; as well as the sacrifice that this type of works supposes for an association like ours, non-profit, whose sole purpose is to magnify the Holy Week of its town for the enjoyment of all.
I am sure that a large number of brothers would have liked to say goodbye to the "José de Arimathea" pass as it deserves, in a procession. With his floral arrangement (thanks to the Carrillo-Arteflor family), with his cypress swaying to the rhythm of the music band, with the candles of the Nazarenes marking the path to the Sepulchre. In addition, the anderos always enjoy this procession above others, perhaps because it is Good Friday night, perhaps because they know that it is the beginning of the end of Holy Week that year, or simply because they are week-olders and enjoy our processions with pride and passion. It is possible that for many ciezanos it is not a great work, but for the Samaritan brothers its value goes far beyond the artistic, it has more to do with the emotional. The "José de Arimathea" project got the Brotherhood to unite, and prove to itself that it was capable of taking greater risks, which, in turn, have become great achievements, which today make us all feel very proud of what it means to be a SAMARITAN.
