The Macarena brotherhood decides the future of its Virgin after the controversial restoration

This Tuesday's date will undoubtedly be one of the most important in recent history for the Brotherhood of Esperanza Macarena of Seville , which holds the record for the number of members of these religious institutions in the city, estimated at around 17,000. Its titular image, the Virgin of La Macarena, is one of the city's great devotions, an icon of Seville's Holy Week that is carried in procession every Good Friday at dawn and is of incalculable artistic value. An anonymous 17th-century carving that has been attributed to the workshop of the great master sculptor Pedro Roldán , where his daughter Luisa, La Roldana , also worked prominently.

The brotherhood's Governing Board has summoned all members over the age of 18 and with more than one year's membership—approximately 14,000, according to its own estimates—to an Extraordinary General Council meeting to be held this Tuesday in the Basilica, starting at 7:30 p.m., to decide the future of their titular image.

The meeting is expected to be held in a highly tense atmosphere following the controversial restoration carried out by Professor Francisco Arquillo at the end of June. After barely five days of work, the restoration substantially altered the Virgin's facial features, prompting popular protests at the church door. It also led to consecutive resignations from the Brotherhood's board of directors. Finally, the transfer of the Macarena to the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH)—an institution dependent on the Ministry of Culture of the Regional Government of Andalusia—to prepare a scientific report on its state of conservation and a proposal for its final restoration, which will be voted on this Tuesday.

As the Brotherhood announced in a statement, if capacity is limited, the space would be expanded to include the adjacent parish church of San Gil and the corporate offices (known as the Brotherhood House). According to the agenda, published by the Macarena on its social media, following the report to be presented by the senior brother, José Antonio Fernández Cabrero, details will be provided on the diagnostic study on the state of conservation of the image, prepared a few weeks ago by the IAPH.

It should be remembered that following the controversy surrounding the cleaning work carried out by Professor Arquillo, which substantially altered the Virgin's face—"an unintended aesthetic alteration," the Brotherhood acknowledged—and sparked a fierce controversy among the faithful both inside and outside the Brotherhood, the image was removed from worship and transferred to the IAPH facilities for a scientific and technical analysis "that would allow for a more in-depth" analysis of its condition.

In addition, the proposal for the restoration of the image of the Esperanza Macarena will be submitted for approval. It will be in the hands of the Sevillian conservator-restorer Pedro Manzano , who was appointed by the Brotherhood for this work after Arquillo's failed intervention, and which will be supervised by the IAPH.

The Extraordinary Chapter Meeting is expected to last well into the early hours of the morning, as the agenda released by the brotherhood includes an initial address by the senior brother, which will be the first time since the controversy that he has publicly addressed the brothers and the entire Seville community; followed by the diagnostic report on the state of conservation of the sacred image of María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena , prepared by the IAPH; the presentation and approval, if appropriate, of the proposal for the restoration of the Virgin; and a final period for questions and requests, where the most tense moments can be expected. The brotherhood has also set up television screens and loudspeakers in all the spaces designated for the Chapter Meeting.

The Cabildo is being held more than a month after that fateful day when the city was ignited by controversy, when the Virgin was returned to worship following a minor cleaning carried out by Arquillo . It was last June 21st: many Sevillians—both brothers and simple devotees—approached the church to contemplate the Virgin after days of absence during which she had been operated on. Her appearance was far from her usual. According to witnesses, the Virgin's gaze was unrecognizable after having new eyelashes fitted, which were removed hours later. Her face had to be operated on up to three times in less than 24 hours to stem the controversy, but criticism grew and public uproar led to mass protests at the church doors . The governing board apologized to the people of Seville and began a series of resignations.

Days later, the Brotherhood announced the transfer of the Virgin of the Macarena to the IAPH and presented the restorer Pedro Manzano as the professional to undertake the intervention that will return the Virgin of Hope to the appearance it had before the cleaning.