Santo Cristo de Burgos of Sariaya, Quezon - Quezon Province's Protector

-
Santo Cristo de Burgos of Sariaya, Quezon
In the historic town of Sariaya, Quezon, there is a popular shrine that is being flocked by pilgrims for centuries and still is at present, especially during Lenten season - the Parish of St. Francis of Assisi, or better known as the Diocesan Shrine of Santo Cristo de Burgos where a strikingly beautiful image of the Crucified Christ is venerated in Sariaya for centuries and numerous miracles were reported through His help that garnered a great number of devotees since his arrival in the 1700's.

The image

The image of Senor Santo Cristo de Burgos is that of a Crucified Christ that is said to be a replica of the original one that is enshrined in the Cathedral of Burgos in Spain. The image sports a wig, has a set of tres potencias, has a very serene face and the intricacy of the carvings is clearly shown in this image. The image wears a different set of tapis that were given by His devotees for centuries as their act of thanksgiving for all the miracles that Out Lord granted to them. The image is mounted on a Cross with a rayos and images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist are placed on the side of the Senor.

The original image of Santo Cristo de Burgos
in Burgos Cathedral in Burgos, Spain
Origin of the devotion

The origin of the devotion to Santo Cristo de Burgos is traced back to its place of origin in Burgos, Spain. The original image of Senor Santo Cristo of Burgos is enshrined in the Chapel of Santo Cristo at Burgos Cathedral. The image is a unique carving made of polychrome wood, it has all the human joints, natural hair and is covered with bovine skin.

The origins of the original image is wrapped in the legend of the merchant where it is said that he found the image  at sea in one of his commercial trips and delivery to the Augustinians of the city, whose prayers were entrusted. Many miracles are attributed to him over the years. The popularity whose devotion extends to several regions of Spain and many nations of Latin America, where he is known as "The Lord of Burgos", especially in Peru and in the Philippines.

The arrival in the Philippines

Santo Cristo de Burgos of Sariaya at present
The image of Santo Cristo de Burgos arrived in the country in 1717 together with the miraculous image of Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados, now venerated in Santa Ana, Manila. The image was a gift of King Felipe V to the people of Quezon province and to the Franciscans who administer the province at that time.

The Franciscans built its first church in Quezon province in 1599. Years later, after some damages, a second church was built in 1605 but was replaced by a third church in 1641. In 1703 the town was transferred to Lumangbayan but the earthquakes and floods of 1743 destroyed the church and the town caused the people to transfer to the present site. The present church was built in 1748 during the term of 2 Spanish Friars namely, Fr. Martin de Talavera and Fr. Joaquin Alapont. In September 14, 2007, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines elevated the Parish as the Diocesan Shrine of Santo Cristo de Burgos.

Miracles

Numerous miracles were attributed through the help of Santo Cristo de Burgos. One of which took palce sometime in 1743, when the town site was destroyed by natural disasters and by Muslim invasion which leveled the town to the ground, the image of Santo Cristo de Burgos remained unscathed which they considered a miracle. The surviving residents wrapped the image in white cloth and then carried it further up Mount Banahaw slopes to find a much more suitable place to build a community.

According to the story, the four men carrying the image rested a bit but when they tried to lift the icon, it became very heavy. They took it as another miracle and a sign from heaven that the town's people built a church on the exact site where the present Church of Saint Francis Assisi is located. The revered icon is now perpetually enshrined behind the Retablo.

Facial detail of Santo Cristo de Burgos
de Sariaya
The Devotion

The unwavering devotion to the Santo Cristo de Burgos continues to be strong and evident in Quezon province for centuries. Pilgrims flock his shrine constantly, especially during the Lenten season and his feast day, September 14 where the people celebrated a colorful fiesta in his honor.

As we end this blogpost dedicated to the famed Santo Cristo de Burgos of Sariaya, Quezon, here is a prayer that is found at the base of the image of the Senor Santo Cristo:

Matamis na Jesus nyaring aking buhay, na dahil sa akin sa Krus ka namatay, sa buhay na ito at sa kamatayan, lingapin mo po ako at kaawaan.

 Senor Santo Cristo de Burgos, Kaawaan mo po kami!
References:

Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion Foundation, Inc. (2008). "Santa Ana Church: A Historical  Guide". Paco, Manila: Kayumanggi Press.
Lontok, GB. (2008) "Sariaya Church". wayspointdotph.
Ilao, PhD, Martin (1999). "Sariaya, Oh Sariaya: A Short History for the Young."
Martinez, Glenn. (2010) "Saiaya's Santissimo Cristo de Burgos", Retrieved from https://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/sariaya%E2%80%99s-santissimo-cristo-de-burgos/  on March 14, 2018.
Burgos Cathedral (2016), "The Chapel of Santo Cristo de Burgos", Retrieved from http://catedraldeburgos.es/visita-cultural/capillas/capilla-santo-cristo on March 14, 2018.
__________ (2007),"Quezon's St. Francis church elevated into diocesan shrine", Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/61095/quezon-s-st-francis-church-elevated-into-diocesan-shrine/story/ on March 10, 2018.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Did Mama Mary Appear in the Philippines? - A Closer Look

-
Image
The Finding of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay of Batangas Disclaimer: The intention of this blogpost is to present data of different reported Marian apparitions that took place in our country from the Spanish era up to the modern times based from the reports gathered by the blogger. The blogger does not have any intention to incite belief in these reported events, especially those that do not have formal approval in accordance to the ruling of Pope Urban VIII regarding reported supernatural phenomena (anticipation of a formal approval or disapproval of such events without the official ruling of the Church). Therefore, the blogger  submits himself to the judgement of the Holy See, together with every interpretation or theory contained in this blog special. Introduction "Did Mama Mary appear in the Philippines?" a question that many Filipino Marian devotees would sometimes wonder given that we are known as the "Pueblo Amante de Maria" for our love for the Mother
Read more

Santo Niño de Cebu - The Eternal King of the Philippines

-
Image
Sto. Nino de Cebu The most revered image in the Philippines -  Santo Niño de Cebú is an image of the Child Jesus much venerated as miraculous by the majority of Filipino Catholics and revered as the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the country. The oldest Christian image in the Philippines, it was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Humamay, the chief consort of Rajah Humabon, along with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a bust of depicting Christ as Ecce Homo. The image is one of the most celebrated in the country that is highlighted through the celebration of Sinulog Festival every Third Sunday of January, its Liturgical Feast and on Kaplag every April 28th, its Original and Traditional Feast, to commemorate the rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus. Miracles have recorded through his help that he continues to shower his devotees up to the present. Features of the Image The image measures approximately tw
Read more

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon - The Sorrowing Mother of Quezon Province

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon (Altar image) In the quiet yet mystical town of Dolores, Quezon, known as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the province where the famed Mount Banahaw is located where syncretic folk beliefs are practiced up to this day. Aside form the “mystical” Mount Banahaw, pilgrims would flock a church near the mountain and it became a center of pilgrimage for ages, the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows of Dolores, Quezon flourished over the years and it became one of the most visited in the Quezon Province due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession. The image There were two images of the Virgin of Sorrows that is venerated in the shrine, the famed altar image that is currently enthroned at the center of the main altar and the processional image that also served as the pilgrim image of the shrine. Both images depict the Blessed Virgin Mary in her moment oi sor
Read more

San Agustin de Tanza - Cavite's famous "Tata Usteng"

-
Image
San Agustin de Tanza "Tata Usteng" In the collective consciousness of the faithful in lowland Cavite, three famous Patrons are community not heard in their lips and centers of devotion, that of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga or "Nana Choleng" of Cavite City, Santa Maria Magdalena or "Nana Nena" of Kawit and our San Agustin of Tanza or more popularly known as "Tata Usteng". Arguably the most famous image of St. Augustine in the Philippines, Tata Usteng lavished his devotees with answered favors, unbelievable miracles and other phenomena that was engrained to the hearts and minds of Cavitenos and his devotees outside Cavite. The image The famed image of San Agustin of Tanza is that of a wooden detallado image of St. Augustine as a Bishop wearing his canonical garb, holding his staff, wearing his mitre and holding a book topped with a scale model of a church in allusion to his title as "Doctor of the Church". Although t
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the Queen of Cavite

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga In the province of Cavite, located in Southern Luzon area, there lies a church in Cavite City, then known as Cavite Puerto where it has been, and still is, the center of pilgrimage in the whole province and outside, including Metro Manila and other provinces for the parish San Roque in Cavite City is the home of the famous Patroness of the Cavite - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the undisputed Queen of Cavite. For Caviteños, the Soledad will always be part of their lives for tremendous miracles were attributed through her intercession and it is no wonder that in almost every home in Cavite, altars and doorsteps are not complete without an image of the Soledad either in print, sculpture, reliefs and other media. The icon has received several titles in its history, including "Queen of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" (Spanish
Read more