Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims participated in the annual procession to the Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines, hoping to touch the centuries-old statue of the Black Nazarene and receive divine blessings.
Hundreds of thousands of Catholic pilgrims swarmed the streets of Manila in search of a miracle Thursday, straining to reach a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ in an annual display of religious fervor.The procession to the Philippine capital's Quiapo Church, which started before dawn after an open-air mass, was expected to swell to more than two million participants from across the heavily Catholic country, church officials said.
Barefoot men and women clad in maroon shirts -- the color of the robe that covers the black, wooden Jesus of Nazarene statue -- scrambled to grab the rope used to draw the life-sized religious icon, believing it would bring good health. Dong Lapira, 54, told AFP of a previous procession where he had been bruised and jostled in his attempt to join those pulling the rope. He vowed to try again Thursday -- this time to see his wife healed of gallstones. 'The Nazarene is very sacred. It has granted many prayers,' he added. Some faithful frantically threw white towels to worshippers tasked with guarding the float, who wiped the statue's glass case before tossing them back. One of those cleaning the glass, Alvin Olicia, 38, told AFP: 'Even if there is extreme heat or rain during the procession, I don't feel it at all. I like my task, because through catching other's handkerchiefs, I feel like I am connecting them to their faith and to the Nazarene.' While authorities have banned devotees from climbing on the carriage, some still clambered over other attendees, risking life and limb to be near the religious ico
RELIGIOUS FERVOR PILGRIMAGE BLACK NAZARENE CATHOLIC DEVOTEES PHILIPPINES
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