More than a million devotees have flocked to the streets of Old Manila for the procession of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo in the hopes of witnessing a miracle and having prayers answered by the life-sized 17th century statue of Jesus Christ.
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Shoeless men and women carried the statue, called the Black Nazarene, through the capital city’s narrow streets, covering a distance of about 4.5 miles to reach the downtown Quiapo church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, at about 2 a.m. Sunday, according to AFP.
“A vigil at the provincial sports center is held on the eighth night to enable all devotees to have a chance to get near the Black Nazarene prior to the 10-kilometer procession on the Feast Day”, Monsanto said.
One of the largest religious gatherings in the world, the festival is attended by barefoot devotees who hurl themselves at the statue believed to have healing powers.
The Asian nation’s dominant church and authorities said they expected millions of people to take part in the parade of the statuette, considered by Catholics as a representation of the Son of God.
The statue, crowned with thorns and bearing a cross, is believed to have been brought from Mexico to Manila by Spanish missionaries on a galleon in 1606.
Security forces randomly checked bags for weapons, firecrackers and pointed objects, including umbrellas, which were banned.
Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Red Cross personnel were deployed to the Pasig River on speedboats in case of any devotees falling from a bridge on the procession route.
Although there was no specific terrorist threat, security concerns were sparked by recent brazen attacks by Islamic State group extremists in countries such as France, police said.
Devotees say the fact that the statue has withstood countless wars and natural disasters – including major earthquakes in 1645 and 1863, two fires in Quiapo Church in 1791 and 1863, as well as the bombing of Manila during World War II – is proof of its miraculous powers.
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“I did not expect that an original portion of the “Black Nazarene” would be given to us to become part of the replica of the Black Nazarene here”, Monsanto said.
