The Nazarene of Saint Paul: An Icon of Faith and Hope for the Venezuelan People

Published at: 27/03/2024 08:15 AM

For the Venezuelan people, the Nazarene of São Paulo is a symbol of veneration, faith and hope.

The figure of the Son of God, with his sloping cross, is made of 17th century Flanders pine wood from Seville, Spain. Its author is unknown, but in popular memory it says that he knelt before the sculpture was finished and asked: “My Lord, what do you lack? - the Nazarene answered him- Where have you seen me that you made me so perfect?” The carver died shortly after the incident.

José Antonio Páez was the first to wear purple in 1833, because the Nazarene of São Paulo granted him a miracle.

It remained in the San Pablo El Ermitaño church for two centuries, but it was demolished by orders of President Antonio Guzmán Blanco to build the Municipal Theater. The story goes that the president's wife did not agree with this decision and that is why he ordered the construction of the Basilica of Santa Teresa, a place that until then was the Nazarene.

In 1869, the epidemic of black vomit hit the entire country, and that's when another miracle of the Son of God occurred. During a procession, the cross and hands of the religious image are entangled in a lemon tree located on the corner of Miracielos and the lemons fell to the ground. The people immediately exclaimed: Miracle!

They say that from those lemons they prepared a drink that ended the epidemic.

Today, many people continue to place their faith in the Nazarene of Saint Paul and to thank them for their favors granted. For this year, the image that rests in the Basilica of Santa Teresa will begin its journey of one and a half kilometers from Diego Ibarra Square, where the last mass of the day will be held.

Starting at 5 in the afternoon, the image of the Nazarene will pass around the corner of Cruz Verde, then it will pass along the esq. de Velásquez to join Lecuna Avenue.

Then it will go to the corner of Angelitos, border the Plaza de O'leary, pass through the corner of López, San Pablo, Municipal and finish at the entrance of the Santa Teresa church again. This tour will last close to four hours, and citizens are advised to wear comfortable clothes due to the crowding and the high temperatures that are taking place during Easter.

Mazo News Team