Virgin in Flames

Semana Santa started differently this year with an effigy of the Virgen going up in flames in Vélez-Málaga. Two man received burns trying to put it out.

AXA Virgen in Flames Easter 2023The incident occurred on Palm Sunday and involvled the Easter procession for the Pollinica y la Virgen del Rocío, when it reached Calle La Carrera.

The emergency services received an alert around 18.00h and officers from the Policia Nacional & Policía Local, the fire service and an ambulance were despatched.

The two men who received burns had tried to beat the flames out with their hands, which is never a good idea. It was an officer from the municipal police, armed with a fire-extinguisher, who actually put the effigy out.

One injured man was taken by ambulance to Hospital de Vélez-Málaga, whilst the other was treated on the spot by the crew of a Cruz Roja ambulance and did not require hospital treatment.

The Town Hall issued a message of support for the members of the processional brotherhood (Cofradía Pollinica y Rocío) and expressed wishes for the two injured men to have a prompt recovery. They also said that the procession had been cancelled and asked for “maximum respect about what happened and to avoid publishing images.”

Editorial Comment: avoid publishing images of the incident? Yeah, right; like nobody has social media accounts! If a house goes up in flames, the Town Hall doesn’t ask for “maximum respect and to avoid publishing images” but this is religion and 100% idolatry so that’s different. It’s OK to set light to bulls’ horns and publish the images but don’t, ‘God forbid’ publish a decked out, religious effigy going up in flames!

Maybe they should stop processions from using lit candles once and for all so people don’t risk breaking their necks on wax-spattered pavements? 

(News: Velez-Malaga, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Andalucia)

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