#BreakingNews Over 7.3 Million at Procession Honoring Jesus - 400 Year Old Black Nazarene - a Traditional Feast Day in the Philippines!
Millions of people participated on Jan. 9, 2026, in the Philippine's capital Manila, in the traditional event, one of the most important and popular for the Philippine Church. The statue of Jesus is enclosed in a glass case, to protect it from the crowd. This feast is now a public holiday. In a Facebook post by its public information office, Manila City said this year's religious festivity has drawn 7,337,700 participants as of 7 a.m. Saturday.
Manila's procession of the "Black Nazarene", is one of the most important events for the Church in the Philippines, the only country with a Catholic majority in Asia.
The Quiapo Church recorded during the 2025 procession the attendance of 8,124,050 devotees: one of the biggest crowds in the religious festival's history.
In 2026, over 7.3 million people were recorded in the procession from Jan.9th-10th. Every year the translation of the sacred sculpture from the original site, the church of Saint Nicola of Tolentino, in the parish of Quiapo, in the capital, ends a novena (31 December - 9 January) and sees the massive participation of people praying to ask for a personal grace or miracle.
The current walk is a large celebration and is stimulated by the faithful's bond with Jesus who suffered on the cross for us.
The historic statue of the Black Nazarene, life-size and covered in glass, is carried in procession in the heart of Manila after a Holy Mass celebrated at dawn.
The current walk is a large celebration and is stimulated by the faithful's bond with Jesus who suffered on the cross for us.
The historic statue of the Black Nazarene, life-size and covered in glass, is carried in procession in the heart of Manila after a Holy Mass celebrated at dawn.
The event has a strong spiritual and votive meaning and reveals the close link between faith, society and tradition. Authorities regular deploy over 14 thousand security personnel and medical personnel along the route, ready to intervene in case of emergency.
Millions of faithful took part in the (slow) journey towards the church of Quiapo, according to the official estimates. Among the people it is common practice to pay homage to the statue, which legend says has "healing" powers, to heal from incurable diseases.
Dori Hael Marquez, mother of two young children, says she has been a "devotee" of the Black Nazarene "for decades. I have continually received miracles from Him." She is echoed by Mavic Duque, mother of six grown children, who confides: “Thank you very much, our beloved Lord Jesus of Nazareth, for your blessings upon us and for our salvation in daily life. You will always guide us. Viva Nuestra Jesus Nazarene”.
In the Philippines, over 82% of the approximately 115 million inhabitants are Catholic. Among the religious celebrations, the procession of the "Black Nazarene" is among the most famous and popular.
The statue represents Jesus bent under the weight of the Cross. It was brought to Manila by a Spanish Augustinian priest in 1607 aboard a ship from Mexico. According to tradition, the boat caught fire during the voyage, but the image of Christ miraculously escaped the fire by turning black. In the past a Philippine prelate, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, stated that the dark color is linked to the use of mesquite wood.
The procession commemorates the first movement of the statue, which took place on 9 January 1767. Along the entire route (seven kilometres) of the Translation, which lasts several hours, the faithful flock to touch or kiss the sculpture as a sign of devotion, creating enormous gatherings.
In the Philippines, over 82% of the approximately 115 million inhabitants are Catholic. Among the religious celebrations, the procession of the "Black Nazarene" is among the most famous and popular.
The statue represents Jesus bent under the weight of the Cross. It was brought to Manila by a Spanish Augustinian priest in 1607 aboard a ship from Mexico. According to tradition, the boat caught fire during the voyage, but the image of Christ miraculously escaped the fire by turning black. In the past a Philippine prelate, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, stated that the dark color is linked to the use of mesquite wood.
The procession commemorates the first movement of the statue, which took place on 9 January 1767. Along the entire route (seven kilometres) of the Translation, which lasts several hours, the faithful flock to touch or kiss the sculpture as a sign of devotion, creating enormous gatherings.
Sources: Asia News IT and CBCP News.net -https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/972334/7-3-million-in-traslacion-2026-manila-city-lgu/story/
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2023303/more-devotees-join-traslacion-2025-8-12m-flock-to-nazarene-feast
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/24/black-nazarene-returns-to-quiapo-church-after-almost-15-hours
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