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Story highlights
- Dozens of devotees volunteer for crucifixion and other bloody acts of penitence each year
- The Church and medical officials disapprove of the practice
(CNN)Some devout Catholics in the deeply religious Southeast Asian nation of the Philippines will show their faith this Easter weekend with what can be deeply unsettling displays, including crucifixions and self-flagellation.
Dozens of penitents, imitating the suffering of Christ, have real nails hammered into their palms and feet, while others drag heavy crosses or crawl on bloodied hands and knees in cities and towns across the country on Good Friday.
Others, dressed as Roman centurions, aid the voluntary crucifixions, which last a few minutes before the faithful are taken down.
Penitents engage in the extreme acts to ask for luck or divine intervention, or in gratitude for previously "miraculous" help.
The tradition, which takes place every year, attracts thousands of onlookers and tourists in the fervently Catholic nation. It takes place predominantly in the Central Luzon province of Pampanga, but festivals in towns like Cutud in Barangay San Pedro, near Manila draw crowds to watch the gory displays.
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Passion of the Philippines – As Christians around the world celebrate Easter, religious fanatics in the Philippines commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ with extreme acts of penitence. They flog themselves with wooden whips and some are nailed to the cross to atone for their sins. Catholic leaders in the Philippines condemn the practice.
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Passion of the Philippines – Authorities in the Philippines have said they expect at least 24 penitents to be nailed on the cross on Good Friday.
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Passion of the Philippines – Maleldo, the Holy Week re-enactment of Christ's Passion and Death, has been performed every year for the past 51 years, city councilor Jimmy Lazatin said.
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Passion of the Philippines – A portrait of Jesus covers a penitent's face as he carries a cross during a Holy Week ceremony in the northern province of Pampanga in the Philippines.
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Passion of the Philippines – Penitents commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection with self-flagellation, whipping their backs with wooden flails.
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Passion of the Philippines – Renate, pictured, has participated in the Good Friday celebrations for the past 23 years. When asked why he goes through the pain, he says: "Too many sins, too many sins."
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Passion of the Philippines – Bishops in the Philippines - which is home to 75 million Catholics - have discouraged people from engaging in extreme acts of faith, like self-flagellation.
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Passion of the Philippines – Devotees believe that by showing penance for their sins, God will provide them with blessings, such as good health.
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Passion of the Philippines – First-aiders are at the site, helping those who collapse from heath, dehydration and need their wounds treated.
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Easter PenitentsPassion of the Philippines in the Philippines – Public health officials in the Philippines have warned those partaking in the ceremonies against the risk of developing infections.
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Passion of the Philippines – A girl watches penitents carrying wooden crosses taking a rest along a road during a ceremony in Angeles City, Pampanga.
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Passion of the Philippines – Up to 5,000 men have chosen to participate in the Good Friday celebration as penitents. Jimmy Lazatin, city councilor who co-organizes the event, says the men have different reasons for their actions. For some, it's their faith. For others, it's "macho" entertainment.
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Passion of the Philippines – Ruben Enaje, 53, a carpenter and sign painter from San Fernando Pampanga, has played the role of Jesus for the past 27 years.
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Passion of the Philippines – A penitent is nailed to a cross during the reenactment of crucifixion on Good Friday in the village of San Juan, San Fernando City, north of Manila.
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Passion of the Philippines – For the 75 million Catholics in the Philippines, Easter is the spiritual highlight of the year. Thousands wait patiently for long hours in 40 degrees heat, just to catch a glimpse of this brutal tradition. Lazatin says the city expects around 40,000 visitors.
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Passion of the Philippines – Many of the penitents believe their sacrifice can help their families. Lazatin says many choose to participate for the first time when their loved ones suffer from illness.
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Fifty-year history
The tradition in San Fernando, Pampanga, has its origins in a version of the Passion of the Christ written by a local playwright in the 1950s, which led to the first crucifixion in 1962. It has since grown into one of the most visually striking religious festivals in this part of the world.
Catholic leaders in the Philippines condemn the practice, which is also discouraged by public health officials.
First-aid personnel are on hand at the events, to help those who collapse from heat and dehydration, or who need their wounds treated.
Devotees say that the wounds can take up to two weeks to heal, but are a small price to pay to have, as they believe, their sins washed away by the extreme acts.
Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
Each year, a small number of worshipers in the fervently Catholic Philippines mark Good Friday by being nailed to crosses and whipping their backs bloody, in extreme acts of devotion that attract thousands of spectators.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
Not for the weak of heart: Penitent Ruben Enage wails in pain as he is nailed to a cross by devotees wearing costumes of Roman centurions in the village of Cutud, Philippines on April 3, 2015.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
The dominant Roman Catholic church does not condone flagellation or crucifixion, but some devout Catholics say it is a means of atoning for their sins.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
In addition, believers say flagellation, or pamagparaya, is a way to bring themselves closer to God.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
Penitents walk towards crosses as they whip themselves on April 3, 2015.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
A penitent is nailed to a cross on April 3, 2015.
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Photos: Filipinos flagellate, crucify themselves in Holy Week ritual
A man whips penitents during celebrations on April 2, 2015.
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Not all Good Friday celebrations in the Philippines are quite so visceral, however. Across the country the faithful gather for Mass, and Catholics were welcomed at Manila Cathedral earlier on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Christ.
Devotees solemnly carry out the Stations of the Cross, praying at each of the 14 stations that depict Jesus Christ and his suffering.