Millions of devoted christians stormed the streets barefooted to celebrate Black Jesus believed to protect people.
Millions of Fillipinos stormed the streets to celebrate the Black Jesus
Millions of barefoot devotees on Monday joined the largest
religious event in the Philippines to honour a centuries-old statue of
Jesus Christ despite warnings that Islamist extremists might attack the
gathering.
Thousands of police officers and soldiers were deployed to guard
the feast of the Black Nazarene in central Manila, the highlight of
which is a day-long procession that traverses nearly 6 kilometres.
The US, Britain and Australia warned their citizens to stay away
from the procession after authorities said extremists who pledged
allegiance to the Islamic State might retaliate for the killing of a
leader last week.
The threat, however, did not stop the huge crowd of people from
coming out into the streets to offer prayers to the Black Nazarene,
which is believed to be miraculous.
“The Poon will protect us,” said Eric Salazar, 46, referring to the Black Nazarene with the name used by devotees. “He will not allow anything bad to happen to us because of our devotion.”
Salazar, who has been a devotee since he was a child, came to the procession with more than a dozen neighbours.
Devotees, mostly wearing maroon and yellow t-shirts, waved towels
and handkerchiefs as the statue passed by. Many rushed to the carriage,
pushing and shoving other people to touch the rope attached to it or to
get a chance to climb and kiss the statue.
Some participants even stayed overnight in a Manila park where the
Black Nazarene statue was displayed since Sunday to allow devotees to
kiss it and wipe their towels or handkerchiefs on it.
More than 100 people were treated for wounds on their feet, high
blood pressure, fainting and other injuries in the first five hours of
the procession, according to Red Cross Philippines.
Organizers said they expected up to 17 million people to attend the
procession from Luneta Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
in the district of Quiapo, and other activities.
Last year, two people died when they suffered a heart attack and
seizures during the procession, while more than 1,200 were treated for
other injuries.
The procession lasted for 20 hours in 2016, but organizers are hoping that it would be faster this year.
President Rodrigo Duterte hailed the “phenomenal expression of faith” of the devotees of the Black Nazarene, noting, “Good fortunes are usually borne out of hard work and perseverance.”
“Prayers are likely answered because we do not give up or get
tired from asking God for the fulfillment of our heart’s desires,” he said in a statement.
“We are neither exhausted by praying constantly nor do we ever falter in expressing our religious fervor,” he added.
The wooden statue of Jesus Christ, crowned with thorns and bearing a
cross, is believed to have been brought from Mexico to Manila in 1606
by Spanish missionaries.
The ship that carried it caught fire, but the charred statue survived and was named the Black Nazarene.
-NAN
Reliance Training and Management Consulting, a dynamic, fast growing indigenous entity, was established and duly registered with the aim to nurture, develop and innovate people and organisations through customized training, development and management consulting services, with excellent performance, deep sense of commitment, transparency, honesty and responsibility, to demonstrate the highest standard of technical and operational expertise.
Reliance is competently positioned to provide technical knowledge and skills relevant to practical management and business problems, to stimulate the creativity and innovation necessary to build a better community, a better nation and a better world with a committed mind set to contributing our best to the maximization of personal potentials and skills toward optimizing productivity and achieving organisational goals.
for more information click RELIANCE TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
No need to visit Tonygists just use the android application click for more info Tonygists android application
Visit some of the website built by tonygists
1. south south penpushers : south south pen pushers
2. kingdom builders : Kingdom builders
Tonygists bro: honest zone
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Hot GIST Channel Latest Updates - @Hot Gist
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Gospel World (which is also owned by Tony Gists) youtube Channel Latest Updates - @Gospel world
Are you on audio mack? Follow Tonygists on audio mack to listen and download to the latest Mfm sermons Latest Updates - @Tonygists
Follow Tonygists on LinkedIn to get more jobs opportunities Latest Updates - @Tonygists
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Honest Ose Channel Latest Updates - @Honest Ose
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Honest Web Solutions Channel Latest Updates - @Honest Web Solutions
Are You On youtube? subscribe to Xtremely Honest Channel Latest Updates - @Xtremely Honest
Are You On Twitter? Follow Us Now For Latest Updates - @tonygists
Are You On FACEBOOK? Like Our Page For Latest Updates - tonygists
Are You On FACEBOOK? Join Our Group For Latest Updates And Interactions - TonyGists
© 2023 Tonygists | Portions are © 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.
