Black Nazarene procession begins

Devotees raise replicas of the Black Nazarene during a procession in Quiapo, Manila. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

MANILA, Philippines - The traditional procession of the Black Nazarene or Traslacion started Saturday early morning after a Holy Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Around 5:54 a.m., the image of the Black Nazarene was lifted by barefooted devotees to the carriage or “andas” immediately after the singing of the “Ama Namin.”

Droves of devotees attempted to approach and touch the religious icon while others who brought along with them replicas of the Black Nazarene waited for the carriage to pass along the routes of the procession.

The image will be paraded around selected routes in Manila and brought to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church.

As many as 15 million devotees are expected to participate in the traslacion.

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