A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.

On Friday, over a hundred people watched on as 10 devotees were nailed to wooden crosses, among them Ruben Enaje, a 63-year-old carpenter and sign painter. The real-life crucifixions have become an annual religious spectacle that draws tourists in three rural communities in Pampanga province, north of Manila.

The gory ritual resumed last year after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has turned Enaje into a village celebrity for his role as the “Christ” in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross.

Ahead of the crucifixions, Enaje told The Associated Press by telephone Thursday night that he has considered ending his annual religious penitence due to his age, but said he could not turn down requests from villagers for him to pray for sick relatives and all other kinds of maladies.

  • spiderman
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    8 months ago

    what he might have wanted people to understand: world peace, remembering people about current wars, people should know love should be put front forth all other things

    what people in comments understand: “lol this guy has a fetish” “did that achieve anything, just get on with your work” “he’s a freak”

    • spujb@lemmy.cafe
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      8 months ago

      thinly veiled racism. it’s not often lemmy gets to voice its most bigoted thoughts without fear of consequences so they are taking full advantage of the situation.

      • spiderman
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        8 months ago

        i wished lemmy to be a replacement of reddit but not in this way