EACH year, millions and millions of Catholic devotees lend a day of their lives, commemorating the Jesus Nazarene (formerly Black Nazarene) through Traslacion. 

‘The Feast of Jesus Nazarene is one of the well-known and significant events for Filipino Catholics, and Traslacion is one of the activities held during the celebration. Along with the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene is paraded from Quirino Grandstand to the church of Quiapo in Manila.  

The History of Jesus Nazarene 

In the year of 1606, coming from Mexico—a group of Augustinian Recollect missionaries came to the land of Manila, a newly colonized land of Spain. On May 31st,  these missionaries landed on the soil of Manila, bagging with them various religious images from Mexico. 

These images are made from strong wood that is similarly constructed on the making of Our Lady of Antipolo along with the following depiction of the Passion of Christ in several stages: 

• Agony in the Garden (La Oracion del Señor)
• Christ Arrested (Señor Cautivo)
• Christ Scourged at the Pillar (Señor Azotado)
• Christ Fainted in Exhaustion (Señor Desmayado)
• Christ Crowned with Thorns (Señor de Paciencia)
• Christ Sentenced to Death (Ecce Homo)
• Christ Carrying the Cross (Señor Nazareno). 

One of the images that was brought in the land of Manila was the “Black” Nazarene and with its hue there were two theories on why the Nazarene was colored black. One of the said theory was due to the fire that broke out on the ship during the trip and second being that it was originally carved from a very dark timber. 

This expedition is said to be led by Fr. Benito de San Pablo, a friar from Jarandilla, Extremadura, Spain. 

Fr. Benito has also come to author a series of sermons and devotionaries and later became the biographer of the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters (formerly known as the Beaterio de San Sebastián de Calumpang founders) Mother Dionisia Talangpaz and Cecilia Rosa Talangpaz.  

Aside from the Nazarene, La Oracion del Señorm, Señor Azotado, Señor de Paciencia, and the Nazareno were kept by the Recoletos and is brought out every Palm Sunday when the Passion of Christ is being read until the war destroyed them. 

In the year of 1608, the Recollect Fathers began promoting the devotion to the suffering of our Lord and on April 21, 1621, The Confraternity or Cofradia de Jesus Nazareno was established. 

His Holiness granted the brotherhood his papal benediction on April 20, 1650 by Pope Innocent X and those who prayed in front of the Black Nazarene in the 19th century were granted indulgence by his Holiness Pope Pius VII.

The Jesus Nazarene has also proved his miracle by being resilient despite the massive events that occurred. In 1791 and 1929, it survived two great fires that burnt down the Quiapo Church. It also withstood the great earthquakes of 1645 and 1863. 

And in 1945, it also survived the destructive bombing in Manila during the World War II.  

Nazareno ng Mahirap at Mayaman 

It was stated that before the arrival of the Nazareno in the country, the friars were worried that the image would be disturbing by the increasing number of devotees whose wishing to pay respects. 

Due to this fear, they ordered a replica of Nazareno from Mexico and according to hearsay, it was dubbed as the “Nazareno ng Mahirap.”

“Nazareno ng Mayaman” was the moniker given to another Nazareno that was housed in Intramuros since it was exclusively accessible to the wealthier devotees. This was later given to the San Nicolar de Tolentino Church that can be found in Intramuros. 

According to some sources, others claim that it and the other images the friars created were first displayed at the St. John the Baptist Church before being transferred to a larger building two years later.

When Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina ordered the Nazareno ng Mahirap to be moved to the church of Quiapo in January 9, 1787, both Nazarenos were held at Intramuros.

Meanwhile, the said Nazareno ng Mayaman was later destroyed during the Battle of Manila. 

In the commemoration of its transfer, the yearly practice of the procession was began, thus the practice of Traslacion was born.