Still others do these things as solemn acts of prayergestures designed to solicit the saints attention. This way, you can check out a nearby museum called Capilla de Los Exvotos, visit the Fuente Milagrosa (miraculous fountain) - said to have healing properties - and get to know the local workers that contribute to the temples legacy. Irina Pino: I was born in the middle of shortages in those sixties that marked so many patterns in the world. The noise was an underground music genre called Reparto, the kind that human beings who still have a little good taste find torture, both to the ears and soul. The payers of promises crawling down the street breaking human limits, the devotees come to celebrate the day of the miraculous saint. At the bottom of the basket, they layer crumbled charcoal, followed by a piece of bread smeared with palm oil and topped with seven guinea peppers. As a child, it was always a show. Every year, there are tens of thousands of people who travel from the most remote places in the country to the Rincon sanctuary on the outskirts of Havana to pay homage to this saint. The Spirit of Santeria Barefoot Men in Sackcloths Make the San Lzaro Pilgrimage Today A large dome with a cross rises high above the central altar, where youll find the image of Saint Lazarus with other revered saints in Cuba, like the Virgen del Cobre and the Virgen de Regla. More recently, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 resulted in an economic contraction of some 50 percent, and again many Cubans went hungry. All rights reserved. Like the modest altar for alms, these improvised carts usually include a statue of St. Lazarus. According to the New Testament, Lazarus is the brother of Martha and Mary. Why are Celebrity Concerts Controversial in Nicaragua? | READ MORE. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance the understanding of politics, human rights, the economy, democracy, and social justice issues related to Cuba. Over the years, this rejection grew until it turned into something so grotesque that Ive never been able to understand how some people worship something that suggests hardship, death toll and deception. At his darkest moment, Babal-Ay was completely crippled and could not even walk. To show their gratitude, pilgrims -usually wearing some violet-colored piece of clothing- walk for several kilometers on their knees or dragging stones up to the Hermitage of Rincn, a town located some 20 km from Havana. The devotion for San Lzaro in Cuba ranks second after the Virgen de la Caridad, this veneration is almost always linked to Santeria.. For a pilgrimage worth bloodying your knees to see, head for El Rincn on the outskirts of Havana to watch (or join) up to 50,000 faithful descend en masse on the venerated shrine of Lazarus, a saint known for his ministrations to lepers and the poor. Dates. | Acceptance of these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique identifications (IDs) on this site. Your Privacy Rights Cuba's El Rincon and the Worshippers of Saint Lazarus Photo: Endrys Correa Vaillant, Great effort and energy are needed to keep the promises. Una de las ms concurridas manifestaciones de fervor religioso en Cuba es la peregrinacin anual hasta el . Visit the Sanctuary of San Lzaro San Lzaro church in El Rincn Photo: Shutterstock Experience the Pilgrimage of Cuba's Faithful to the Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus El Santuario Nacional de San Lzaro is one of the most visited temples of worship for the Cuban people. Travel to Cuba in December Visit Cuba Experience the Pilgrimage of Cubas Faithful to the Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus. To his surprise, as he entered the village he realized that everyone there was suffering from a serious illness, and the villagers who saw him went to meet him in veneration. At that time the most important Mass of the day takes place and the rest of the time pastors remain attending the penitents, trying to ease his physical and spiritual pain. HAVANA TIMES I remember when I was little that my beloved grandmother, a great follower of St. Lazarus, used to take me to the vigils organized by the Martinez family, a rural family that is friends with my family, who used to celebrate this holy festival and pray for a promise. I had never gone, Id only seen documentary images. Tens of thousands of devotees from all over the country come to the church to pray to Saint Lazarus/Babal-Ay and ask him for health or protection for themselves and their families. Cubas Lazarus works miracles for the destitute and the infirm, making him one of the countrys most popular saints. In Cuba, the cult spans centuries and devotees offer the saint great offerings and sacrifices, every December 17, a day in which many keep promises and wear sackcloth . Even families go with their dogs. Some people dress in sackcloth and carry crutches. 3 Stories of Saint Lazarus venerated in Cuba and his syncretism with Babal . Who is San Lzaro? The miraculous old man I could say that adversity has always been an inseparable companion, I have never had anything easy, but in some sense, it has benefited my character. Saint Lazarus Under Police Surveillance - Translating Cuba I first wondered why there was such a racket that I could hear it clearly from over a block away until I steadily realized that it was December seventeenth already, which is the day that half the country pays homage to St. Lazarus, Jesus friend based on the Bible, who was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, although the Holy Scriptures tell us in regards to the beggar Lazarus, stuffed with blisters that dogs would lick, whom was granted paradise by God due to his devotion; or to Babalu Aye, the orisha of leprosy, smallpox, STDs and other plagues and poverty based on Cuban Santeria. Saint Lazarus, a saint of the Catholic Church, is associated with Babalu Aye, orisha of the Yoruba religion worshiped in Cuban Santeria. I was woken up by a noise on Saturday December 17th, at 1 AM. 20 1.9K views 9 years ago As one of the largest and most important religious events of the year in Cuba, tens of thousands of Cuban pilgrims flocked to the small village of El Rincon just outside. In the African-inspired religious tradition known as Santera or Oricha, Babal-Ay is both feared and beloved. It works sometimes but our bodies breakdown too naturally. Babal Ay, who knew some of Osains secrets of healing, began to care for the sick and was proclaimed king of the place. Some slide with a stone on their backs, others walk barefoot or with flowers and candles. The Saint Lazarus Sanctuary - Cuba Treasure Other faithful go there to pray and meditate their sentences before the image of the saint. Due to the African heritage in the Yoruba religion it is syncretized with Babal Ay and also this day 17 is the day of the Orisha: "Father lord of the earth". All are headed to the church. The Devotion to San Lazaro in Cuba and some of its Particularities Hence the phrase: Lazarus, get up and walk. In the parable of the Gospel of Luke, its Lazarus, the poor man accompanied by dogs that lick his wounds. Here I leave you a series of elements and offerings to attend to the Saint that I learned from my grandmother and that you can offer to the Patron of the poor to help you set goals, to alleviate discomfort and grant you health. And we must look for this equivalence in the Lucumian blacks who identified their African gods with Christian images. December 17, 2013 Carlos Cabezas Pilgrimage Day in Cuba to celebrate St. Lazarus In Cuba and abroad, people of syncretic religious faith worship Babalu Aye, identifying him with the image of the parable of Lazarus. The churchs origins are tightly related to the Havana Leper Colony - which is now a Specialized Dermatological Hospital - built in the 17th century. . Jesus came to his tomb, said a prayer and called Lazarus to come out, which he did. They know that no one theres going to worship their saint, but on at the present time they imitate their enemies of religion, demonstrating an exemplary ecumenism. Like him, hundreds of pilgrims went to "pay" their promises. Conflated with both Lazaruses, he is honored with an annual pilgrimage to the Church and Leprosorium of Saint Lazarus in El Rincn that occurs on December 17. Thought to be responsible for bringing epidemics like smallpox, leprosy and AIDS, Babal-Ay also cures these diseases. One by one, crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, the. Photo: Endrys Correa Vaillant, Carlos Manuel, who walked six days with that stone from Centro Habana, has been a pilgrim for 15 years. December 18, 2019. by Endrys Correa Vaillant | internet@granma.cu. Hence the phrase: "Lazarus, get up and walk." Remember: "The man who has faith, but works without faith, then his faith is dead.". Has San Lazaro intervened, despite everything? 10 Things You Should Know About San Lzaro Bendito Babal-Ay The devotion to San Lazaro in Cuba is second in importance in the Cuban religious context; only surpassed by the Virgen de la Caridad Virgin of Charity, patroness of Cuba. In their eyes is a genuine gaze of appreciation, praise, and admiration for San Lzaro - a connection challenging to explain but completely perceivable. The San Lazaro Sanctuary/Church is located in the small town of Rincon just outside Havana (15 minute drive). Finally, in the principal chapel, followers can visit the most adored statue of San Lzaro Milagroso (the miraculous Saint Lazarus). Thats inevitable, so roll with the punches., See the 12th Havana Times Photo Contest First Cut See now, Devotion in Cuba to Saint Lazarus (+ Video), 12th Havana Times Photo Contest First Cut, Political Prisoner Amaya Coppens Brothers Assaulted by pro-Ortega Mob, The 12th Havana Times Photo Contest Winners, Market, Managua, Nicaragua Photo of the Day, When You Read This Article, I Will be Dead, Nicaraguas Economy Cannot be De-dollarized, Expecting Cuban Mom: The Problem Is I Dont Have Any Time, The Arbitrary Jailing of Nicaraguan Student Leader Jasson Salazar. Thousands of Cubans flock to the shrine, which is located about 30 kilometers southwest of Havana. This year of extreme crisis . The holy procession to the National Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus begins about 5:00 pm on December 16th, the eve of the feast of this saint. Little statuettes of the saint are everywhere - theyre brought in boxes, in peoples hands, and placed on the floor surrounded by bills and coins. Saint Lazarus, the beggar, the one with the sores, the crutches, and the dogs, which has its origin in a passage in the Gospels. Search from Cuba Religion stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. Storage or technical access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences not requested by the subscriber or user. He lived on the outskirts of Jerusalem, in the town of Bethany. At the end people walk around the basket and sing praises for the deity. Cuban believers take these beliefs seriously. Lazarus, the patron saint of the poor and sick, is depicted as a homeless beggar in Cuba. by Tips from a Santera SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE The day of our Old man San Lzaro Blessed adored in Cuba and in other parts of the world. How to Experience Cuba's Procession of St. Lazarus Cuba. List of Holidays I got here to my senses and discovered that it was coming from a house that is kind of a ways away. Can you send me the information and the price of the Spiritual Consultations guided by an Espiritista Santera? HAVANA TIMES Though Havana's El Rincon shrine welcomes those who worship Saint Lazarus throughout the year, it is without a doubt the 17th of December, the official date of tribute to the saint, that sees the largest volumes of people there. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox, I would like to get Visit Cuba newsletters in my inbox. The pilgrims of Saint Lazarus - Covering Cuba Tourism & Travel Usually, the believers keep secret the miracles of San Lazaro and Babal Ay, but much is said about cures of mortal diseases and the end of misfortunes. In Santera, Babal Ay is depicted as an old man covered with sores that are licked by his faithful dog; he has the power to cure illnesses, too. Ivan Garcia, 18 December 2017 On the night of Thursday, 14 December at night, after fifteen hours on the road under a copious downpour, from Sagua de Tnamo, in Holgun, province 530 miles northwest of Havana, in an old General Motors truck from the 1950s, Erasmus and . Music. The church was designed with three naves, each with its own entrance to accommodate worshippers and visitors alike. As usual, Irina Pinas article is a pleasant read. Some religious elders say 13 plates, some say 17 and some even say 77 plates must be present. The elders of the village, seeing his condition, sewed his tongue with twelve diloggn (a divinatory system of the Osha Rule that uses the cauri snail in the hand of 18 or 21 pieces, depending on the orisha in question) and expelled him from the place. As soon as day breaks, the soul of Cubans is colored in yellow and purple. Every year the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Rincon, a faithful expression of devotion to San Lazaro in Cuba, sums over 15,000 believers. It is supposedly blessed by the deity and is carried by believers for purification and blessing. Written by info@caribting.com December 25, 2022 Storage or technical access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. When Lazarus died, he was sent to heaven, and the rich man went to hell after his death. Before the American occupation of Cuba in 1902, scarlet fever epidemics erupted almost every year, and thousands died. Many are the stories about the miracles worked by this saint that people . They commemorate their history as a people, they acknowledge their human vulnerability, and they call out to be made whole. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Take 17 cents and soak it in coconut water, blow dry wine and tobacco smoke. A speckled rooster, a guinea hen, two eggs and the j, the ritual broom of Babal are used as part of the cleansing ritual. 5 Short Prayers to Saint Lazarus to heal us and protect us from Evil It is normal to see them in the strollers known popularly as spiders moving in groups of up to 20 to fulfill their task.