Black Nazarene starts long-winded journey to Quiapo Church

A LEAP OF FAITH: Thousands of Black Nazarene devotees flock to Luneta to attend a high fiesta Mass to cap the start of the annual Traslacion. PHOTO/Christia Marie Ramos

MANILA, Philippines — The carriage of the Black Nazarene image started to inch away early Wednesday from the premises of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to begin its 6.4-kilometer journey to the Quiapo Church.

Before the commencement of the Traslacion, or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, thousands of devotees already flocked to Luneta to attend a high fiesta Mass succeeded by hourly Masses and performances.

The procession kicked off at 5:08 a.m., with five million barefooted devotees expected to join the event in the hope of touching the life-sized blackened image of a kneeling Jesus Christ.

According to officials of the Quiapo Church, the estimated time of arrival of the carriage is at 2:30 a.m. the next day.