MANILA, Philippines — Around 35,000 devotees joined the procession of the Black Nazarene early morning of Good Friday, the Manila Police District (MPD) said.
The procession, which started Friday midnight, was on its way back to the Quiapo Church, as of this posting. MPD said that as of 7:00 a.m., the main body of the procession was moving along Barbosa Street in Manila, with more than 15,000 people still joining the procession.
Meanwhile, MPD estimates that about 100 people are waiting at the Hidalgo Arch in Plaza Miranda for the return of Black Nazarene’s carriage.
MPD has earlier released a rerouting scheme in the vicinity of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in anticipation of thousands of devotees joining the Good Friday procession.
READ: MPD releases rerouting scheme for Good Friday Quiapo procession
The Black Nazarane, a statue of Jesus Christ depicting the Bible story of his struggle to carry the cross on the way to Calvary, draws a lot of Filipino Catholics for the belief that it brings miracles.
The faithful holds the annual Traslacion on January 9, where millions join the procession in the nation’s capital that lasts for sometimes up to 24 hours.
But the liturgical feast day of the Black Nazarene falls on Good Friday, the same day Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
READ: Black Nazarene devotees keep coming back for life’s ‘miracles’
READ: 960,000 Nazarene devotees at Traslacion – police