In Jávea, at the foot of the Montgó, there are three hermitages similar to the three mountains of Jerusalem, in which Christ Our Lord performed particular miracles: Calvary, Mount Zion and Mount Oliveti... Thus, in Jávea there are: Calvary Chapel, Hermitage of Pòpul y Hermitage of Santa Llúcia.
In the II Centenary of the coming of the Nazarene to Xàbia (1767-1967), the full MI Javea Town Hall dated October 02, 1967, the Municipal Corporation agrees to appoint the DIVINE Perpetual Mayor of the Villa de Xàbia
NAZARENE.
The strong devotion to Jesús Nazareno in Jávea, dates back fundamentally, since in 1834 morbid cholera appeared in several towns in the Alicante region. The epidemic spreads through the interior: Elche, Monóvar, Alcoy and along the coast: Benidorm, Dénia, Jávea, etc.
In Alicante in 1854 1.900 people died and several more throughout the region. In Jávea they are entrusted to Jesús Nazareno and he was free from the scourge of this deadly disease. Therefore, it is not strange that the people of Jávea adore without reservation and with a special devotion to their Jesus Nazareno.
Javienses have never lost faith in You, Nazarene. Since more than 250 years ago you landed in Xàbia, his faith remains unshakable. They have loved you, they love you and they will love you. Neither the pandemic nor any other difficulty will prevent the xabieros from worshiping you, venerating you and being willing to follow the Via Crucis that you suffered until the crucifixion and death on Mount Calvary.
You, remain in that hermitage of "Calvario" of Xàbia and watch day and night, in silence, without rest to protect them from all bad behavior. They will never abandon you. They are convinced and hopeful that you will save them from this treacherous pandemic that is gripping them. From the sadness of their hearts and from all the disasters that could ensue, as you did in the time of morbid cholera in which Jávea was exempt from the death of said epidemic.
And the xabieros attribute it to the fact that you poured out on the people your divine breath of spiritual strength to free Xàbia from this terrible misfortune.
Now, they are still alive in faith. After this two-year hiatus in which they have not been able to pay tribute, cheer and thank you as you deserve, normality will return and they will celebrate with more joy than ever on May 03 the day known as Day of the Crosses, and the centennial procession of the return of his Nazareno to Calvary, from where he will watch over the Xàbia that loves him and loves him so much:
Until Calvary I follow you
in fervent procession
as a repentant sinner
as did the good thief
who went to heaven with you.
You do not want to see them sad or sorry, or that their hearts suffer. Therefore, you will return their joy and your spiritual light will illuminate their soul because, you know well, the faith that has nested in their hearts for more than 250 years. Your great goodness, your mercy, your love, will not allow the xabieros to suffer for another second, and with divine strength you will infuse them with joy and encouragement to celebrate. not only the Fiesta de las Cruces de Mayo, but all the other festive, cultural, musical and social events that enhance this famous Villa of my beloved Xàbia.
Because between you and the xabieros there is a secret complicity of infinite love that is eternal and perennial. That tradition and that rootedness of love can never be overthrown by any storm or setback. Because the xabieros know what they want, that's why they have been, are and will be happy. And they will repeat endlessly:
Nazarene, Nazarene,
to Jávea you send your divine light,
You are, his love and his life,
You are, his eternal "I LOVE YOU".
Nazarene
in my loneliness I wait for you.
Broken path of pain
burning in the torch of horror
receive my soul in these verses of love.
Nazarene
in my loneliness I wait for you.
Juan Legaz Palomares.
