Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila

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FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE

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The procession of the Black Nazarene is the largest procession in the country.

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It takes place on January the 9th and on Good Friday through the streets of Quiapo, a small part of Metro Manila.

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The procession dates from the 17th century. Thousands of men parade through the streets with the life-sized, black wooden statue of Jesus (of Nazarene).

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During the feast of the Black Nazarene thousands of barefoot men join the annual procession. Walking barefoot during the procession is seen as a sign of humility. During this procession the men yell “Viva Señor”.

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A miracle after touching the statue? Everyone who is in near of the cross tries to touch the statue. People believe that a miracle can happen after touching it. The statue was bought by a priest in Mexico and brought to Manila in 1606. The Black Nazarene is a more than 200-year-old statue.

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Black? One tale is telling that during the Spanish colonial period missionaries brought an icon to Manila. During the trip however, there was a fire on board and the icon, the Nazarene, caught fire. Despite its charred condition, the Nazarene was kept save and honored from then on.

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The statue is to be seen in the Saint John the Baptist Church in Quiapo in Manila, where it has been housed since 1787.

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Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the country come to Manila to be part of the procession of the Black Nazarene. All participants in the procession hope that they will have the opportunity to touch the wooden statue. They hope that this will protect them from harm and ensure health in the future. Indeed, it is said that sometimes persons were healed of diseases after touching the statue! (A Filipino: “My daughter was very sick, so I joined this procession last year. Now she is cured….”). Some of them follow the statue during the procession because they believe it is an atonement of their sins or hope for some miracle.

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