Following this year’s theme, “Mary, Mother and Teacher,” the traditional procession left the Cathedral and in a little over five hours arrived at the Basilica Shrine, where Holy Mass takes place.
Newsroom (12/10/2022 6:47 PM Gaudium Press) — Last Sunday, the streets of downtown Belém were filled with devotees and pilgrims who, after two years, could again participate in one of the biggest religious manifestations of Brazil: the “Cirio” of Our Lady of Nazareth.
Two and a half million devotees and pilgrims
According to the Secretariat of Public Safety of Pará, the religious event gathered about two and a half million people. After Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Belém, presided over by Most Rev. Alberto Taveira Corrêa, Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará, the faithful accompanied the image of the patron saint of the Amazon along a 3.6 km route.
Following the theme of this edition, “Mary, Mother and Teacher,” the procession travelled, in a little over five hours, through the entire historic centre of Belém. The procession route covered some of the major memorials representing the history of the city, while heading towards the Shrine-basilica built on the same site where the image was found miraculously in 1700.
Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The great procession ended at 12:20 PM with Holy Mass presided by Most Rev. Antônio de Assis Ribeiro, Auxiliary Bishop of Belém do Pará, at the Shrine Square. Since 2014, the festival is considered Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a title granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
