The Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Carmen Conesa, today presented Cieza with the venerated image of Christ of Consolation, unofficial patron saint of the town, after its restoration at the Autonomous Community Restoration Center, in a ceremony held at the chapel where it is worshipped throughout the year.
The councilor highlighted the uniqueness of the carving, from the end of the 17th century, for being made in "cartapesta", a technique of molded and polychromed glued paper that makes it a work as light as it is fragile, "but also for the fervor it has always aroused in Cieza, and not only in its presence in the streets on the occasion of Holy Week and its transfers to and from its hermitage, but constantly, to the point of having it as the unofficial patron of the town."
The Restoration Center of the Region of Murcia has carried out a rigorous and delicate restoration, which has returned the image to its original integrity and beauty, always respecting the criteria of minimal intervention and reversibility, "and demonstrating the professionalism and rigor of its technicians," he stressed.
The councilor highlighted the investment of more than 170,000 euros so far this year in the restoration and conservation of heritage assets, "because we believe that each recovered piece strengthens our collective identity."
I conclude by recalling that the Christ of Consolation will participate on November 15th in the grand procession of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which will bring together in Murcia floats from different parts of the Diocese, "and will do so as a symbol of a living heritage that unites past, faith and future."