![Cristo Negro (Black Christ) - Iglesia de San Felipe (01)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Cristo_Negro_%28Black_Christ%29_-_Iglesia_de_San_Felipe_%2801%29.jpg)
''Cristo Negro'' (Black Christ; also known as "Nazareno"; nicknames, "Naza", "el Negro", "el Negrito", "el Cristo", and "el Santo") is a wooden statue of
Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
in
Iglesia de San Felipe, a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
located in
Portobelo,
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
. The statue was found on the shores of the town's harbour. Life size, it is adorned with a robe that is changed twice a year, once during the Festival of the Black Christ and during
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
. Black Christ is venerated throughout the year, most particularly on October 21, during the Festival of the Black Christ.
A similar image called ''
The Black Nazarene'' is venerated in
Quiapo,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
.
Statue
The origins of the statue are unclear. The wooden image of
Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...
washed ashore at Portobelo, picked up by fishermen. It was initially housed in a small church and venerated. After Iglesia de San Felipe was built, the statue was installed there. One legend says that the statue was said to be sent to Spain. Some time during the 17th century (an exact date is not identified), it was carried in a Colombian vessel to be installed in the
New World
The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...
. Due to a storm, the ship was forced to dock at Portobelo. When the ship was scheduled to depart, a sudden storm set in, preventing the ship to set sail; this happened repeatedly. Attributing this phenomenon to the statue, the superstitious sailors threw the box containing the statue into the sea and thereafter the storm subsided, and the ship moved on.
The statue is life-size and carries a cross. The image is carved of heavy
cocobolo
Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood of Central American trees belonging to the genus ''Dalbergia''. Only the heartwood of cocobolo is used; it is usually orange or reddish-brown, often with darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. The heartw ...
(''Dalbergia retusa'') wood of dark brown colour. The image reflects emotional pain. It is deified in the church on a platform to the left of the altar. A gilded plaque with items linked with Christ's
crucifixion
Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...
, such as nails, a crown of thorns, and dice as used by the Roman soldiers adorns the statue.
At various times, the statue is dressed in a robe. During the Black Christ Festival held on October 21, the robe is of red or wine in colour. It is of purple colour during
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
. The robes are donated by devotees usually anonymously, and once changed the robes are not reused. The robes are sometimes made of simple fabric, and sometimes of more expensive fabric with rich designs and gold borders. All the gowns which have adorned the statue, and which are changed twice a year, are now preserved in a museum called the Museo del Cristo Negro (Black Christ Museum), which is located at the
Church of San Juan de Dios, a 17th-century church located behind the Iglesis de San Felipe. Previously the museum building had been a hospital. As of 2010, the museum had 60 robes which once adorned the Black Christ statue. The robes are a mark of an individual devotee's expressed adoration of the Black Christ and their penance seeking atonement of sin.
Pilgrimage
![La Iglesia de San Felipe de Portobelo Panamá](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/La_Iglesia_de_San_Felipe_de_Portobelo_Panam%C3%A1.JPG)
The statue is venerated by people from all parts of Panama. Several miracles have been attributed to ''Cristo Negro'' and so it is also referred to as "El Nazareno." Visiting the church is a pilgrimage undertaken by villagers. Some walk from
Panama City
Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...
, others walk from
Sabanitas
Sabanitas is a corregimiento in Colón District, Colón Province, Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of ...
, and a few pilgrims crawl the last mile on their hands and knees, seeking blessings at the shrine.
During the pilgrimage, pilgrims adorn themselves with purple robes (representing the clothing worn by
Jesus
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
when Roman soldiers made fun of him for claiming kingship) similar to the one that adorns ''Cristo Negro.''
Criminals also make this pilgrimage to atone for their crimes. There are many stories related to criminals participating on the festival day, which has resulted in designating the Black Christ as the "patron saint of criminals."
Some devout worshipers pin gold charms on their robes as symbols of faith. On arriving at the threshold of the church, pilgrims discard their robes at the midnight hour.
Art Works
Among the many art works that the Cristo Negro has inspired, two audiovisual products are remarkable. Panamanian photographer
Sandra Eleta
Sandra Eleta is an artist and photographer. Eleta was born in Panama City in Republic of Panama on September 4, 1942, as Sandra Eleta Boyd. Eleta studied Fine Arts at Finch College and then later studied Social Investigation in The New School of ...
included a majestic coverage of the Cristo Negro massive procession in her slide-show "Portobelo", while Cuban-American filmmaker
Alfredo Alvarez Calderón
Alfredo (, ) is a cognate of the Anglo-Saxon name Alfred and a common Italian, Galician, Portuguese and Spanish language personal name.
People with the given name include:
*Alfredo (born 1946), Brazilian footballer born as Alfredo Mostarda Filh ...
released in 1996 a comprehensive documentary on the cult, pilgrimage and procession, called "El Cristo Negro de Portobelo". Painter
Rogelio Pretto
Rogelio () is a masculine Spanish given name and a variant of the first name Roger. Notable people with the name include:
* Rogelio Antonio, Jr. (born 1962), Filipino chess player
* Rogelio Armenteros (born 1994), Cuban pitcher in Major League Ba ...
and other Panamanian artists have also contributed many works with the Cristo Negro image.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{coord missing, Panama
Statues of Jesus
Tourist attractions in Colón Province
Catholic Church in Panama
Wooden sculptures