Devotees discouraged from attending Black Nazarene feast barefooted

MANILA, Philippines — Black Nazarene devotees are discouraged from attending tomorrow’s feast barefooted to avoid contracting COVID-19, a Church official said yesterday.

“Hindi sila pwede magyapak. Wala namang andas na nandoon ang Nazarenong vicario na may lubid na pinuprusisyon,” Quiapo Church Rector Monsigñor Hernando Coronel said.

Traditionally, barefoot devotees of the Black Nazarene climb over one another to touch the life-size statue of Jesus Christ, wipe a white towel on it or lay a hand on the ropes attached to its float.

Coronel said Nazarene devotees need not attend the mass at the Quiapo Church as masses would be held simultaneously nationwide.

Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said masses would be celebrated in all parishes under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila.

These are the churches in the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

Aside from the Manila Police District’s deployment of up to 7,000 operatives, the National Capital Region Police Office will send 20,000 officers to secure the feast of the Black Nazarene, according to NCRPO acting director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.

Danao said the police officers would control the crowd around Quiapo Church.

He appealed for cooperation from the Nazarene devotees.

Police said devotees can only bring transparent bags to join the feast.

Authorities canceled this year’s traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 infection.

Health authorities urged devotees to avoid going to Quiapo Church and observe the feast of the Black Nazarene at home.

The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 said the new variant of coronavirus could easily spread in crowded places. – Ghio Ong, Mayen Jaymalin