Belem – Para, Brazil (Thursday, 10-15-2015, Gaudium Press) 2 million faithful, with great devotion and piety, attended in Belem do Para, in the north east side of Brazil, the traditional procession in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth.
This year it was the 223rd edition of the so called “Cirio de Nazare”, which includes traditional liturgical festivities to take place in many cities around the country. It received recently from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the title of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On Sunday, October 11, the celebrations started at 6:30 am, with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Archbishop of Belem, His Excellency Alberto Taveira, by the Cathedral of Belem, located in the centre of the old town.
Immediately afterwards, a huge procession started, with pilgrims coming from different parts of Brazil, walking 3.6 km, during five continuous hours, in order to pay homage to the Virgin of Nazareth.
The famous rope, 400 meters long and 600 kilos heavy, which is a typical characteristic of this event, was attached to the carrier of the Statue of Our Lady of Nazareth and pulled by approximately 7000 people under the custody of the National Guard of the City.
The Archbishop Alberto Taveira gave the traditional blessing of the rope at the college of Santa Catarina. At the end of the procession the Nazareth Guard proceeded to the cutting of the rope and the distribution of the pieces to the faithful.
The final destination of the procession “Cirio de Nazare” was the Sanctuary Square. There at approximately 12 noon, the Mass of the arrival took place presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Bethlehem, His Excellency Irenaeus Roman.(LMI)
From the Editor’s Desk with information from the “Cirio de Nazare”
