Thu. Nov 21st, 2024
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Good Friday is one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The day sparks an outpouring of devotion from Christians across the globe, some even go as far as being nailed to a cross.

Here’s how it has been marked across the world. 

Crucified for the 35th time

Men push a cross up. On the cross, a man wearing a white robe around his waist is nailed by his hands.
Ruben Enaje has been nailed to a cross 35 times to commemorate Good Friday.(Reuters: Lisa Marie David)

In the Philippines, devout Catholics were nailed to crosses in sweltering heat. 

Around 20,000 Filipino and foreign tourists flocked to San Pedro Cutud village north of the capital Manila for the annual event. 

Ruben Enaje, 63, was crucified for the 35th time. 

“While I was walking, all I was thinking about was how Jesus felt while he was carrying his crosses,” he said. 

“I can’t tell for how long I can do this — my body is also getting old.”

The Catholic Church disapproves of people being nailed to crosses.

Three men are crucified on a cross in front of a church, with three men dressed as Roman soldiers and a crowd watching on.

Members of the Italian community take part in an annual re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Bensheim, southwest of Frankfurt, Germany.(Reuters: Kai Pfaffenbach)

In Germany, actors took part in a less gruesome re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, in what is an annual event. 

Actors dressed as Roman soldiers and Jesus made their way through the streets of Bensheim in Germany’s south.

The tradition started among Italian migrants in the 1980s.

Jerusalem commemorates as war continues 

Two women knelt down and touching a stone with a group standing behind watching. They are in a church.

Worshippers pray at what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.(Reuters: Hannah McKay)

With the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, Christians in Jerusalem’s old town took part in Good Friday processions. 

The old town of Jerusalem is the holiest place for Christians, where it’s believed Jesus often preached, was crucified and later resurrected. 

Worshippers prayed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, thought to be the burial place of Jesus. 

Easter processions also took place in Harare in Zimbabwe, where Catholics carried crosses to commemorate Good Friday.

Two African men and one woman carry a wooden cross.

Worshippers in Harare commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion.(Reuters: Philimon Bulawayo)

In Paris, priests took part in a Stations of the Cross procession outside the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

A priest wearing a white robe carries a cross with other priests walking behind him.

Priests in Paris mark Good Friday.(Reuters: Gonzalo Fuentes)

Rain dampens spirits in Spain

Torrential rain in southern Spain forced the cancellation of some Good Friday processions. 

A group of people gathering inside a church.

Heavy rain in parts of spain meant street processions could not take place on Good Friday. (Reuters: Jon Nazca)

In Seville, many were left in tears as the night-time processions were called off due to bad weather. 

Nearby in the town of Ronda, mass took place inside, as heavy rain forced the traditional street commemoration to be moved. 

Reuters/ABC

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