Santos Varones

It's nearly nine o'clock at night. The harsh sound of a wooden rattle fills Codpa. It's a couple of children announcing that Good Friday Mass is about to begin. The entire community gathers at the church. Everyone, that is, except for a group of men who mysteriously congregate to one side: the Holy Men. Dressed in the old colonial style, with long white tunics and hoods, these men prepare to theatrically reenact the Passion of Christ. Using black and white images, whose narrative envelops us in a profound and enigmatic atmosphere, this photo essay shows how the Holy Men traverse the night with Christ on their backs, navigating a tapestry of Hispanic and Andean customs. As if it were a theatrical performance, the text guides the reader through the various scenes that make up this dramatic staging, always tinged with local festive joy.