The “Juovi Santu” rite in Mendicino.

The holy performance in Mendicino during Easter time and the peasant Christ.

In the week before Easter in Mendicino, a village near Cosenza, it takes place a holy performance called u Juovi Santu, which tells the story of Christ’s journey to Calvary that finishes with the crucifixion. The hamlet becomes a stage and the residents are the actors of a play who tells about emotions, passion, death and Resurrection.

The procession of the Juovi Santu – Christ at Calvary

Holy Thursday takes place every four years and it has medieval origins. It was paused only during the two wars, but it started again soon after by the Congregations of Santa Caterina and of the Madonna del Carmelo for the will of the soldiers returned from the front.

The Via Crucis passes through the three districts: Castello, Puompula and Pilacco.

The procession of the Juovi Santu in Mendicino

An original figure belonging only to the Passion of Mendicino is u pinnune, a young man who arrives in the main square and runs back and forth like a madman: he shows his physical strength, skill and body agility by waving the black standard and beating it on his chest and on his teeth and strongly trampling the ground with his foot to the sound of drums and bass drum in order to decide the death of Jesus.

The procession of the Juovi Santu – U Pinnune

Two angels give him comfort with their songs while he is carrying the cross, interrupted with those of the pious women who walk with the Madonna.

The procession of the Juovi Santu in Mendicino

The liturgy becomes touching expecially with the Coro dei Mistieri (Choir of Mysteries) which narrates the story of the Passion.

The procession of the Juovi Santu in Mendicino – The Priests

Another character is Judas, who gets lost in the crowd in the performing of Mendicino, needy of money that doesn’t come from the work but from fortuitous opportunities.
In the procession the courts of Pilate and Herod parade sumptuously dressed and the commoners who mingle with the spectators.

The procession of the Juovi Santu in Mendicino – the Commoners

The parade finishes with the crucifixion under the Clock Tower with the suggestive light of the sunset.

Lucia Parise

Panorama of the Clock Tower of Mendicino

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