Following the Cross Procession

Aside from its sun-filled days, Easter week on Hvar will captivate you with a unique tradition and exclusive experience. In this particular time of year, the entire island comes alive with the spirit of tradition culminating in the Following the Cross Procession. Participating in the procession will take you on a one-of-a-kind spiritual journey and enable you to experience six picturesque places of the island’s central part by night.

On the night of Good Thursday, from the villages of Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Vrbanj, Svirče and Vrboska, a procession of believers led by members of the brotherhood and a key figure, the cross bearer, begins its course lit only by candlelight and accompanied by religious songs. The cross bearer, symbolizing the Way of the Cross, carries the cross all throughout the night from his home parish through the surrounding villages, returning it solemnly at dawn to his home village.

For many people of faith, particularly the cross bearer who has been waiting for this honour for years, it’s a true trial to lead and follow the procession on the eve of the greatest Christian holiday, on a journey over 20 km long. During the entire length of the procession, aside from the prayers, impressive archaic chants can be heard performed by the famous cantors. The central religious song is an interpretation of the medieval Passion text Our Lady’s Cry in the form of a dialogue.

The most impressive part of the procession takes place at dawn in front of the church itself, when the cross bearer runs the last 50 meters of the course and, in climax, ends his long Way of the Cross on his knees.

This religious custom represents unique intangible world heritage and is, as such, recognized by UNESCO. But even more so, for the people of Hvar, it’s a deeply rooted tradition regarded with an open heart and the utmost respect.

Besides the Following the Cross Procession, almost every place on Hvar has it’s own expression of piety. Stari Grad has its Good Friday procession when the cross is carried through town. Sveta Nedjelja bears its own cross, the people from Dol carry theirs from Dol to Stari Grad and back, and in the town of Hvar the cross is carried by Dominican friars. The villages of Poljica, Zastražišće, Gdinj, Bogomolje and Sućuraj also have the tradition of carrying crosses.