• The event will take place online on 26 May and will bring together European experts and representatives to analyse the role of Passion imagery in shaping community identity
• The meeting will explore the symbolic, spiritual and heritage dimensions of devotional images as key elements in the continuity of Holy Week traditions across Europe
• The event, free of charge with limited registration, aims to create a space for reflection on the present and future of traditions linked to Holy Week and Easter

06.05.2026.- The European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations will hold the 4th European Meeting of Brotherhoods and Confraternities on 26 May, further consolidating this initiative as one of the leading forums for dialogue among organisations and communities dedicated to preserving and transmitting Holy Week and Easter traditions throughout Europe.

Under the title “The Images of Our Passion: Belonging and Devotion”, this fourth edition will focus on the role played by devotional images within these celebrations, understood not only as artistic expressions, but also as vehicles for transmitting identity, memory and social cohesion.

The Meeting will be held online and free of charge, making it accessible to representatives of brotherhoods, confraternities, cultural institutions and specialists from different European territories. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Spanish and English. Portuguese and Italian interpretation will also be offered depending on the number of participants requesting these languages.

 

A shared heritage expressed through diverse traditions

Since its creation, the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations has worked to promote and safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural heritage associated with these festivities, which are deeply rooted across much of the European continent.

This legacy, which combines a remarkable diversity of local expressions with shared elements that connect them, represents an example of common heritage that transcends borders and remains alive thanks to the commitment of the communities that sustain it.

In this context, the European Meeting of Brotherhoods and Confraternities is conceived as a space for exchange, enabling participants to analyse the current reality of these traditions and address the challenges affecting their continuity over time.

 

The images of the Passion: the central focus of reflection

The images that play a central role in Holy Week celebrations hold a fundamental place in the collective experience. Beyond their artistic value, they are powerful symbols that shape the life of brotherhoods and confraternities, creating bonds of belonging and reinforcing community identity.

This edition proposes both a comparative and conceptual approach to the role of sacred sculptures, addressing topics such as their function within the symbolic universe of European Holy Week traditions, the construction of a sense of belonging through titular images, the relationship between art and spirituality, and the responsibility of communities in their preservation and transmission.

 

A programme structured around three thematic blocks

The 4th Meeting will be structured around an opening lecture and three thematic sessions exploring the subject from different perspectives.

The event will begin at 17:00 with the institutional opening by Sergio Velasco Albalá, president of the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations, and will be hosted by journalist Clara Ramírez Baum. This will be followed by the opening lecture delivered by Rui Ferreira, coordinator of the Network’s Scientific Committee, who will provide a historical, theological and cultural framework on the central role of images in European popular religiosity.

The programme will then continue with three panel discussions. The first, “The Image as a Symbolic Universe in Europe”, will be coordinated by María Cátedra Tomás, Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology at the Complutense University of Madrid, PhD from the Complutense University and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, internationally recognised for her work in symbolic and urban anthropology. Speakers will include Varico Pereira, from the Holy Week Commission of Braga (Portugal), and George Agius, from the City Council of Birgu (Malta).

The second panel, “Image, Belonging and Spiritual Experience”, will be coordinated by Brian Bonicci, a leading figure in Maltese folklore and culture, as well as a communicator, producer and author specialising in festive traditions and popular religiosity. Participants will include Antonio Ramón Jiménez, from the Association of Brotherhoods of Cabra and the Research Centre of the Caminos de Pasión Route (Spain), and Santiago Parra, from the City Council of Lorca (Spain).

The third session, “Preservation and Future of Devotional Images”, will be coordinated by César Costa, Passionist priest, Master in Theology, graduate in History and researcher specialising in Church History and the figure of Edith Stein, with a distinguished academic and editorial career. Speakers will include Sergio Lledó, from the Holy Week Museum of Crevillente (Spain), and Concetta Cataldo, from Teatro della Parola (Atepa) in Caltanissetta (Italy).

The Meeting will conclude with a final summary delivered by Rui Ferreira. The event will bring together representatives of institutions and organisations from countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy and Malta, further reinforcing its European dimension.

 

A space for exchange and cooperation

One of the main objectives of this initiative is to strengthen ties between the communities involved, creating a space for dialogue in which to share experiences, knowledge and good practices.

In this sense, the Meeting contributes to consolidating a shared perspective on a living heritage that is constantly evolving, forms part of Europe’s cultural identity, and requires coordinated strategies for its preservation and future projection.

 

Registration open until 22 May

Registration for the 4th European Meeting of Brotherhoods and Confraternities is free of charge and limited in capacity. Registration will remain open until 22 May 2026. Interested participants must complete the registration form provided by the organisation, which will confirm participation in the days prior to the event.

More information is available at: www.encuentrodehermandades.eu

 

More about the European Network

Created in 2019, the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations is an organisation dedicated to promoting traditions linked to Holy Week and Easter, contributing to the safeguarding of this rich cultural heritage. Its main objective is to foster a greater understanding of the values embodied in this extensive legacy, present throughout much of Europe. A heritage that combines remarkable local differences with a broad shared presence across many European regions.