30,000 Faithful Gather for Blessing of Black Nazarene Replicas in Manila

In a significant religious event, approximately 30,000 devotees congregated in Manila on Thursday, January 2, 2024, to witness the blessing of replicas of the Black Nazarene. The ceremony took place at a footbridge near the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene on Quezon Boulevard. The blessing commenced at 1:30 p.m. and by 5 p.m., the crowd had swelled to around 30,000 attendees, as reported by the Nazareno Operation Center. The Office of the Hijos De Nazareno (HDN) General Secretariat noted that the event saw the participation of groups known as ‘balangay’, who brought along 1,100 officially recognized replicas of the revered Black Nazarene. Additionally, there were individuals present with their own unaccredited replicas. This blessing ceremony is a key part of the lead-up to the Feast of the Black Nazarene, celebrated on January 9. The festivities culminate with the Fiesta Mass at midnight on January 9, followed by the Traslacion, a grand procession that carries the image of Jesus Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta back to the minor basilica.