Nazareno returns to Quiapo Church after 22 hours
BACK HOME. After an almost 22-hour journey, the Black Nazarene makes it back to Quiapo Church. Photo by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The image of the Black Nazarene returned to Quiapo Church on Wednesday, January 10, ending a 22-hour procession that began at the Quirino Grandstand.
The Nazareno image entered the Quiapo Church at around 3:05 am on Wednesday.
The procession began at the Quirino Grandstand at around 5 am on Tuesday, January 9.
The 17th-century image entered Quiapo Church a bit earlier than in 2017, when the procession ended around 3:30 am of January 10.
According to Manila Police District chief Joel Coronel, 6.314 million devotees joined the Black Nazarene procession this year.
The Black Nazarene statue, crowned with thorns and bearing a cross, was brought to Manila by Augustinian priests in 1607. (WATCH: 2018 Feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo)
It is also believed to have been partially burnt and blackened when the galleon carrying it caught fire on a voyage from Mexico, another Spanish colony at the time. – Rappler.com
Related video: Mary 'meets' Jesus at San Sebastian Church
