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There was also a new mantle for the Virgin of Sorrows, a Majordom coat, and three Egyptian slave costumes, with the renovation of the Romanian infantry «Legio VII» starting with the new SPQR for Labaro and the restoration of all metal parts of the group. These were celebrated at the Blue Paso Clutch Workshop, under the artistic leadership of José Miguel Gimeno, Joaquín Bastida, Adrián Páez, Pedro Guerrero, and Patricia Ruano.
Santiago Parra, the tourism mayor, stated: «These premieres boost Lorca’s Holy Week, positioning it even further as one of the most unique and spectacular holidays in the world.»
April 14, 2025. The tourism councilor in the city of Lorca, Santiago Parra, participated on Tuesday morning, along with the director general of tourism in the region of Murcia, Juan Francisco Martínez, and the president of the Brotherhood of Farmers, Paso Azul, Miguel Ingel Ingel, in this brother’s premiere.
It is particularly the clothing of Nero, Seneca, and Menani and thirty capes for the infantry and battery band of Christ Yacent on Friday, some textiles with which the brother continues to enhance his legacy and that of all of Lorca.
There was also a new vestment for the Virgin of Sorrows, a significant tunic, and three Egyptian slave outfits, with the renovation of the Roman infantry «Legio VII» starting with the new SPQR for Labaro and the restoration of all metal parts of the group.
Santiago Parra said that «once again, the Blue Paso demonstrates its inexhaustible ability to grow, innovate, and continue contributing to the beauty and history of our processions. Each of the new textiles presented is the result of exhaustive work, absolute dedication, and a strong commitment to artistic excellence and respect for tradition.»
The tourism councilor emphasized that «the renewal of characters, such as Emperor Nero, or emblematic groups, such as the Roman infantry, not only enrich the heritage of the Brotherhood itself but also raise the level of the entire biblical and Holy Week narrative, positioning it more and more uniquely and exclusively as the most spectacular holiday.»
He also wanted to highlight the «fundamental role played by embroidery workshops, designers, artists, and, in particular, all the people who, anonymously, dedicate their time and talent to create this «miraculous» silk and gold work that amazes thousands of visitors and locals alike.
Parra Sorino recalled that «due to the regional government’s commitment to the Brotherhood, which launched two experimental programs in the specialty of «silk and gold embroidery,» as well as the employment programs that we started from the Municipal Council, we not only maintain our heritage but also create new opportunities for the unemployed, and what is more important,» he said.
Finally, the tourism mayor congratulated the embroiderers, designers, and sasoristas for their work and encouraged the people of Lorca and visitors to «experience the intensity of this Holy Week, enjoy each premiere, each procession, and feel proud to be part of the city, which, thanks to the brotherhood.
Premieres, in detail
Nero Clothing, Seneca, and Menani
Nero will wear a Greek-style tunic with a jaw for the elbow and a straight cut, made with boat and collar. In the upper part, from the sleeve to the sleeve mode and border, an embroidery inspired by the Domus transitorium is incorporated and joins the tors with a velvet belt with a central medallion featuring his own face. The coat has a length of 5.80 meters and a maximum width of 2 meters, made in garnet velvet and includes seven rectangular posters with motifs inspired by Domus aurea and framed by a silver Greece. The character is completed with a new triumphal crown that blends with the usual laurel rays of the sun, a pound, and for footwear, the distinctive boot of Roman officers was chosen. The embroidery design and artistic direction were carried out by Mr. José Miguel Gimeno Martínez.
Seneca will wear a classic Roman mantle in red and black tunic. The ornamentation is inspired by Greek decorations with wave motifs, and the lower poster reproduces the frescoes of Domus with griffins and satyrs made of silk and thin gold thread. The outfit is complemented with red leather prey shoes. Both the tunic and the toga refer to his senatorial status and will, therefore, appear with the usual scroll. The design and artistic direction of Mantal Seneca were carried out by Mr. Joaquín Bastida Gil.
Menani, the child accompanying the emperor on his float, will wear a simple model of a Roman cream tunic with embroidered details. It has vertical stripes in garnet color and embroidered emphasis motifs in shaded silk, with some details in Golden Bugle. It also incorporates traditional Roman sandal and collar with an embroidered silk Angelote.
Mantle for the Virgin of Sorrows
This mantle, embroidered in Gold Bugle, was designed by Mr. Joaquín Gil as a cape for our title. When designing the ornamentation, the director tried to innovate with a decorative repertoire, apart from the traditional and, at the same time, related to the aesthetics of the Blue Paso. To do this, he resorted to heart-shaped motifs that articulate the composition and grow in size towards the center of the coat, incorporating an original modernist style, which also penetrates the design of the Marian anagram, around which we find a central field of stars.
Renovation of the Romanian infantry «Legio VI»
Another significant project is the renovation of one of the most emblematic groups of the Blue Paso procession, the Roman infantry. This intervention, which will culminate in the following years, began by restoring all metal parts of the infantry and band, which were carried out in a Sevillian workshop in the 1980s, under the chairmanship of Mr. Iángel Olcina García.
This rich set, with pieces of excellent views, such as hearts, headphones, or Labaro, regained its splendor thanks to the works carried out in criminal workshops, in Cieza, where the damages were rectified and all the elements were given a new bath.
Additionally, a new embroidered canvas with the SPQR (Senatus Popusque Romanus) was made for Labarus, which opens the group. Designed by Mr. Adrián Páez Martínez and embroidered between March and April of this year, it has a laurel branch-based Greek, a symbol of triumph and is inspired by the ancient Labaro of the Brotherhood. In turn, the back of the song features a Laurel wreath around the Latin name of the group, Legio VII and, at the bottom, that of our Brotherhood, Blue Step.
Cloaks for the infantry of Christ Yacent
In this year’s Good Friday procession, the Infantry Band and Drum of the Good Death will see the culmination of a project started six years ago. This is the premiere of thirty-five-year capes for soldiers and musicians of Picas who escort the image, with a design inspired by those made in 2019 for the flag and controls of this group. Maintaining the aesthetic of these pieces, designed by Mr. Miguel García Peñarrabia, the new capes are embroidered in silver Bugle on black velvet and were made between 2023 and early 2025.
Majordom Tunic
Another addition to this year’s procession is a new majordom tunic. The clothing is inspired by the design of the previous one designed by Mr. Emiliano Rojo Sánchez in the mid-20th century and is characterized by the profusion of plant elements in a great ornamental fantasy, with scrolls that offer a structure, branches that decrease as the throat approaches, the symbol of Mariana. This embroidery was led by Mr. Adrián Páez and Mr. Pedro Guerrero Román.
Egyptian slave costumes from the Association of the Virgin of Sorrows
This year, 2025 will see the launch of three new Egyptian slave costumes, all made in silk and gold Bugle on satin with colorful motifs inspired by the art of the old country of the Nile. Two of these costumes were designed and directed by Ms. Patricia Ruano Valera, corresponding to Mr. Adrián Páez, who drew the third.