F e a s t oF t h e B l a c k N a z a r e N e

QUIAPO Manila
 BLACK NAZARENE
January 9
• The feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 is considered one of the most spectacular religious
events that take place in the Philippine history.
• Every year thousands of devotees from all walks of life come to the district of Quiapo to take part
in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their “panata” (vow) to Lord.
• The Black Nazarene is the patron saint of Quiapo, a small but well-known part of Manila, a hub of
trade and commerce because of the Quiapo market and the many stores located there.
• The life size image of the Black Nazarene shows a “black” Jesus Christ carrying a cross. The
statue has been housed at the Saint John de Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila also known as the
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene since 1787. The image of the Black Nazarene is brought
out in procession on its feast day and Good Friday.
• The statue was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship. The ship caught fire,
burning the image and thus came to be known as the Black Nazarene. Though the image was
burnt, the people decided to preserve and honor it. Since then, miraculous things have been
reported to those who touch the image.
• The celebration starts as the huge door of Quiapo Church opens and the image of the Black
Nazarene is within sight. The ocean of devotees start to yell “Viva Señor” while some wave white
towel high in the air along with the scripture of the Black Nazarene.
• The statue is placed in a gilded carriage for the procession. As the procession starts, procession
participants garbed in maroon tops grab two long ropes and pull it to make the carriage move.
Many will attempt to touch the image while some throw their handkerchiefs and towels in the air.
People who join in the procession walk barefooted as a sign of humility.
• The devotion to the Black Nazarene is long time practice of the Filipino Catholics and they
believe that through their faith with Jesus Christ, there will be peace and harmony among
families, long life and good health among people, deliverance from all calamities and disasters,
and prosperity, joy and love among nations.

Click to advance from this

slide
The devotion to Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno has attracted an even bigger following. Its
popularity, which initially spread to the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread
over time throughout the country.
The image survived the
great fires that destroyed
Quiapo Church in 1791
and 1929, the great
earthquakes of 1645 and
1863, and the destructive
bombing of Manila in
1945 during World War
II.
The uniquely Filipino
devotion to the
Black Nazarene
merited the sanction
and encouragement
of two popes:
Innocent X in 1650,
with a Papal Bull
canonically
establishing the
Cofradia de Jesús
Nazareno, and Pius
VII in the 19th
century, by granting
indulgence to those
who piously pray
before the image of
the Black Nazarene
of Quiapo.
The image is now enshrined in the minor basilica in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines
and the day on which devotees go to the church is Friday.
Faith Healers perform healing rituals around the Quiapo Church during the Feast
Catholic devotees believe that if you are able to touch or wipe a handkerchief or small towel to
the blessed wooden model of the Black Nazarene or even just touch the rope that leads the
Black Nazarene, all your prayers will be answered.
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.
Devotees prepare the rope to pull a statue of the Black Nazarene during a procession in Manila
January 9, 2010. Tens of thousands of devotees thronged Manila to snatch a glimpse or try to
touch the centuries old black black statue of Jesus Christ at the annual parade.
Devotees throw towels to the police who guard the statue and ask them to rub the
towel on the statue in hopes of carrying some of that power away with them.
Devotees pray before the statue of the Black Nazarene is pulled through the streets during a
procession in Manila ,January 9. Tens of thousands of devotees thronged Manila to snatch a glimpse
or try to touch the centuries old black black statue of Jesus Christ at the annual parade.
Hundreds will testify that when they devoted themselves to this tradition, their prayers were answered. Some
get healed, some get to find work, some get money, almost all kinds of wishes and hopes were believed to be
fulfilled by God because of the wooden statue that was brought here by Spaniards from Mexico.