MEDIEVAL VOW STILL FULFILLED

Evening Star, Issue 22775, 9 October 1937, Page 10

MEDIEVAL VOW STILL FULFILLED

FOUR CHRISTS IH PROCESSION Roquebruue, a picturesque village suspended on the side of a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean between Menton and Monte Carlo, is the scene every year in August of one of the strangest processions in Europe, in which the actors who take part are descendants of inhabitants of Boquebrune who made a vow in 1467 which has never been broken. In that year Roquebrune was saved miraculously from the great plague, which continued to ravage the rest of the south of France when, after nine day? of prayer, it suddenly disappeared from the little village. It was then decided that every year the whole village should take part barefoot in a procession from the church to a little stone chape! in the fields half a mile away. Ever since, the vow has been carried out. Wars have never interrupted it, and even during the French Revolution, when priests were hunted from their churches, the people of Roquebrune held their procession. To-day the procession, which in reality is a passion play pageant, is the same in every detail as it was over four centuries ago. On the day of the procession people from all over the country-side can be seen as soon as the day breaks climbing slowly up the 1.500 ft of steps that lead to the village, whose population on the great day is swelled from a few hundred to 15,000 and more. At three o’clock in the afternoon a service is held in the village church halfway up the main staircase-street. A great silence falls on ■ the crowd outside as the doors open and the procession comes slowly out into the hot southern sunlight. It is divided into six parts, each group representing a phase of the Passion. Two Roman soldiers open the march, and behind them come two angels holding the hands of the Virgin Mary. Some 20ft behind this comes the first tableau, with Jesus following an angel holding the cup of bitterness. Behind him walks Judas, rattling a bag of money. Every few minutes the procession stops. Jesus goes down on his knees and the angel presents the cup of bitterness to his lips. When he rises Judas shakes his bag of money and steps forward and kisses him. The second tableau, shows Christ seized by the soldiers. When the group stops, a Roman soldier grasps Christ, but St. Peter with a sword strikes off the soldier’s ear, and is rebuked by Christ, who restores the ear. The third tableau _ shows Christ with bound hands wearing the crown of thorns. Chained to a column of wood carried by a Roman soldier he is scourged at every halt. In the fourth tableau Christ is bowed down beneath the weight of the cross, which Simon helps him to carry. He falls at every halt, when St. Veronica comes forward and wipes his face with _ the cloth on which the imprint of his features is seen. The fifth tableau shows the crucifixion. On a large cross borne by an angel is a beautifully carved figure of Christ, into the side of which a Roman soldier thrusts his spear at every halt and Mary Magdelene kneels and kisses the feet, while executioners play dice for the Lord’s mantle, _ The last group of all carries a lifesize wooden figure of Christ, beautifully carved, the entombment. This effigy is of the fifteenth century and it is:believed was made specially for, this procession. It reclines on a litter borne on the' shoulders of four men.

This Passion Play pageant is carried out in 'a spirit of deep reverence, and its annual performance is a sacred duty. All is silent as the procession winds its way up the stone-stepped streets, and when it is over those who have taken part go quietly away, and many of the spectators who have come to see a “ show ” are deeply moved. The person taking the part of Christ carrying the cross has to fall 62 times on the way from the church to the little chapel and back. ■ .