26 th may 2026
IV European Meeting Of Confraternities and Brotherhoods

THE IMAGES OF OUR PASSION: BELONGING AND DEVOTION

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19th - 20th May 2021

II EUROPEAN MEETING OF CONFRATERNITIES AND BROTHERHOODS

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The European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations is an organisation working for the dissemination of traditions linked to Holy Week and Easter, and in this way safeguard their rich heritage.

Its main goal is to contribute towards a greater understanding of this vast legacy which is still alive in many parts of Europe. A legacy that combines significant local differences with common elements spread across many regions.

The bearer communities structured in Brotherhoods and Confraternities are a key part that show us the great depth and social wealth that keeps these traditions alive. In this way, we are organising an european on-line meeting of Brotherhoods and Confraternities with the objective of generating a forum in which we can discuss, among other topics, the reality and challenges that will ensure the future continuity of our celebrations.

IV EUROPEAN MEETING OF CONFRATERNITIES AND BROTHERHOODS

THE IMAGES OF OUR PASSION: BELONGING AND DEVOTION

The IV Meeting is part of the European cultural cooperation strategy promoted by the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations to reinforce the appreciation of Holy Week and Easter as shared cultural heritage.

Images of the Passion compose the spiritual, symbolic, and communal core of our brotherhoods and confraternities. Beyond their artistic value, they are repositories of memory, identity, and devotional continuity.

This edition offers a comparative and conceptual reflection on the role of sacred sculptures in the generation of belonging, in spiritual experience and in its preservation as living heritage.

GOALS:               

– Exploring the symbolic universe of Holy Week celebrations through the sacred sculptures that are central to them;

– Understanding the relevance of iconographic representations in building a sense of belonging among communities, as well as the need to continue with the practices that take place;

– Perceiving the importance of art and aesthetic experience as an analogy for spirituality and mystical experience;

– The work of bearer communities conserving sculptures and religious images and their ornamentations.

Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French and English simultaneous translation.

Registration / to 22th May 2026

Registration for the meeting ends on 22th May 2026. Please send us the form with your details. The organisation will get in touch with the participants to confirm their registration near the time of the meeting.

Registration is free of charge. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

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PRELIMINARY PROGRAM IV EUROPEAN MEETING OF CONFRATERNITIES AND BROTHERHOODS

(subject to final confirmation of participants)

THE IMAGES OF OUR PASSION: BELONGING AND DEVOTION

Time Program
17h00 Official OpeningWelcome and presentation of the European framework and the goals of the Meeting.
17h10 Inaugural Conference: The Representation of the Passion as the Spiritual and Cultural Center of Europe

Keynote speech providing historical, theological, and cultural context which underpins
the relevance of images in European popular religiosity.
17h30 Images as a Symbolic Universe in Europe

Comparative approach of three European countries/regions.
3 speakers

This section will address:

  • Iconographic features specific to each tradition
  • Symbolic elements common in European Holy Weeks
  • Distinctive features in the representation of the Passion
  • The link between image, land, and historical identity
18h30 BREAK (10 mins)
18h40 Image, Belonging, and Spiritual Experience

Conceptual and cross-cutting approach between Catholic and Orthodox worlds.
2–3 speakers

Areas for reflection:

  • The Main Image as the core of community identity
  • Art and aesthetic experience as a path to spirituality
  • Devotion, emotion, and building a sense of belonging
  • Contemplative and mystical dimension of the image
19h30 Preservation and Future of Religious Images

With the participation of representatives from brotherhoods, European conservation
specialists, and cultural leaders.
2–3 participants

Themes:

  • Bearer communities’ responsibility over this heritage
  • Preventive conservation and restoration
  • Mechanisms of generational transmission
  • Contemporary challenges in the European context
20h00 Conclusions and Closing Remarks

  • Final summary
  • Future lines of work
  • Closure

Registration / Free registration is available until 25th May 2026.

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