In 1606, an expedition made up of Augustinian Recollect missionaries led by Fr. Benito de San Pablo left Mexico for Manila, then a new colony of Spain. They landed on 31 May. They travelled with several religious images, one was of Christ carrying the cross, the Señor Nazareno. The image was enshrined in the first church of the Recoletos at Bagumbayan (Luneta) with St. John the Baptist as patron. The image became known as the Black Nazarene.

In 1608 A second bigger church was built by the Recoletos in Intramuros with St. Nicolas Tolentino as patron saint. The image of the Black Nazarene was transferred to this church at devotion to Him grew.

Devotion to the Black Nazarene continued to grow and accounts of His miracles became well known throughout the archipelago. In 1767 upon the order of the Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina, the image of the Black Nazarene was transferred to Quiapo, which had St. John the Baptist as its patron.

The traslacion is in observance of the journey of the Black Nazarene’s image from Bagumbayan (Luneta) to Quiapo Church. To this day the intense and passionate devotion to the mercy of the suffering Black Nazarene has become more expanded, counting millions of devotees. The annual celebration of the Poong Nazareno ends January 9th in a solemn procession that is “uniquely folk religion, Filipino style”.

 

Watch Part 2. THE VIDEO. “Bakit Itim Ang Mahal Na Poong Nazareno” (“Why Is the Image of Christ Black?). A special VIDEO narration and presentation by FERNANDO N. ZIALCITA, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University.
(https://bahaynakpil.org/pamana-series-2022-balik-tanaw-january-9-the-feast-of-the-black-nazarene-pista-ng-itim-na-nazareno-part-2-of-a-two-part-post-a-special-video-bakit-itim-ang-mahal-na-poong-nazareno/)

 

References: