Amid shower of flower petals and exciting live songs, the venerated image of the Lord of Miracles began its first processional journey of 2023 in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on Saturday.
Before the attentive watch of thousands of parishioners of different ages, the world-famous Lord of Miracles was brought out of the temple carried by believers as has been tradition for several centuries.
The busy Wilson Avenue was flooded by numerous families, among whom the presence of many children and senior citizens could be seen.
Dressed in their traditional purple outfit, the sahumadoras (women who burn incense) were the first group to welcome the sacred painting to which numerous miracles are associated —especially among very sick people.
Ten minutes before leaving
Las Nazarenas Church, the Archbishop of Lima, Monsignor Carlos Castillo, offered a prayer that was joined by those present inside and outside the temple —packed with faithful who did not stop broadcasting the activity with their mobile phones.
"Brother and sisters, in this year 2023, we begin the path of our Lord, the Lord of Miracles. For more than 2,000 years, we know that this Lord came to walk with us so that we could accompany him and go on the right path," were the first words of the priest inside the church.
At noon, the saint's platform made its way among the hundreds of devotees who were visibly excited at its expected arrival.
Around 23,000 devotees joined this first Lord of Miracles tour, according to the Lima Municipality Monitoring Center.
About Lord of Miracles
The Lord of Miracles constitutes Peru's most heavily attended religious festivity and is celebrated by all strata of society in homage to the Crucified Christ.
This image is a replica of a centuries-old mural of the crucifixion painted by a slave in the 17th century.
Thus, the Lord of Miracles became a motive for worship after the wall on which it was painted miraculously survived a destructive earthquake unscathed.
(END) KGR/MVB
Published: 10/7/2023