Passos da Agonia Passion Play 2019 in Santa Bárbara, MG

Tradition and faith in the Serra do Caraça

Holy Week in Santa Bárbara, in the heart of the Serra do Caraça, is one of the most symbolic periods of the town's cultural and religious calendar. In 2019, the town hosted the 44th edition of the Encenação dos Passos da Agonia (Stations of the Agony Passion Play), a celebration that for more than four decades has moved residents and visitors by portraying the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Staged by Âncora Cia de Teatro, with the support of the Santa Bárbara City Hall, the play reaffirms the value of art as an instrument of faith and identity. Recognized as the town's Intangible Cultural Heritage, the event uses the Historic Center as its main setting, bringing the audience into the sacred atmosphere of the centuries-old churches that make up the town's architectural ensemble.

With each edition, the play turns streets and squares into a great open-air stage, inviting the Serra do Caraça community to an experience of reflection and spirituality. More than a theatrical production, "Os Passos da Agonia" is a collective expression of faith, tradition and belonging.

The 44th edition: a journey of emotion and devotion

From April 14 to 20, 2019, Santa Bárbara relived the journey of Jesus Christ in three acts — Life, Death and Resurrection — that moved the audience throughout Holy Week. The program began on Palm Sunday (April 14), with the theater group taking part in the processions of the Mother Church of Santo Antônio and the São Vicente neighborhood, setting the spiritual tone of the event.

The first part of the play was performed on Maundy Thursday (April 18) at 8:30 p.m., right after Mass, with striking scenes such as the Sermon on the Mount, the meeting of Jesus and Mary and Judas's remorse. The next day, Good Friday (April 19), the town woke up in prayer with the Stations of the Cross at 8 a.m., followed by the second part of the play at 7 p.m., portraying the Last Supper, the Garden of Olives, the trial and the crucifixion.

Closing the program, Holy Saturday (April 20) was devoted to the Resurrection, performed at 9 p.m., crowning a week of faith and emotion. The event also featured students from the professional theater workshop supported by the Minas Gerais Union of Entertainment Artists and Technicians (SATED-MG), as well as cultural groups such as Florart, from Florália, and actors from Brumal, Sumidouro, Mumbaça, Barão de Cocais and Catas Altas.

Living heritage of Santa Bárbara's culture

For 44 consecutive years, "Os Passos da Agonia" has reaffirmed Santa Bárbara's role as a reference for religious theater in the Serra do Caraça. Besides being part of the Minas Gerais Religious Theater Hub, the play reinforces the town's importance in preserving cultural expressions that unite art and devotion.

Âncora Cia de Teatro and its collaborators, alongside the local government and the community, keep alive this tradition that spans generations. The dedication of the artists, the involvement of residents and the beauty of the performances make each presentation a testimony to the faith and creativity of Minas Gerais.

With the motto "A cada cena, uma história. Em Santa Bárbara, tradição se valoriza assim" (Every scene, a story. In Santa Bárbara, this is how tradition is valued), the 2019 edition symbolized the continuity of an intangible heritage that is a source of pride for the whole town and for visitors from the Serra do Caraça and many parts of the state.