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

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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.

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