Religion

Philippines cancels annual procession of Black Nazarene due to pandemic

Manila, Jan 9 (EFE/EPA).- The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of the annual procession of the feast of Black Nazarene, which gathers thousands of Catholic devotees in Manila. Despite the cancellation, various masses will be held in different churches and the image of the Black Nazarene will be displayed for devotees to view at the Quiapo Church in Manila. Carved in Mexico, the statue of the Black Nazarene arrived in Manila on May 31, 1606 in a galleon from Acapulco that, according to a legend, caught fire near the archipelago.According to another popular Philippine belief, the heat of the flames gave the Christ its distinctive dark color, although another version attributed this color to the maker, a Mexican craftsman, who used a dark wood to give it its particular hue. (Camera: MARK CRISTINO). SHOT LIST: CARS ENTERING CHINATOWN IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES, DESPITE THE CANCELLATION OF THE ANNUAL PROCESSION OF THE BLACK NAZARENE.