Cubans pay tribute to San Lazarus 'the miraculous,' ask for better US-Cuba relations
Record ID:
1448682
Cubans pay tribute to San Lazarus 'the miraculous,' ask for better US-Cuba relations
- Title: Cubans pay tribute to San Lazarus 'the miraculous,' ask for better US-Cuba relations
- Date: 17th December 2019
- Summary: IMAGE OF SAINT LAZARO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ZULIANE HERNANDEZ, DEVOTEE TO SAINT LAZARO, SAYING: "By the faith of God and the Saints, I hope that this country one day gets better, at least the relation of the U.S. to Cuba, that the embargo ends, because they have us up to here (up to our necks)." VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL SANCTUARY OF SAINT LAZARO
- Embargoed: 31st December 2019 15:44
- Keywords: Cuba Cuba pilgrimage Cuba religion Saint Lazaro San Lazaro faith religion
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA003BAD7P6R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Cuban faithful returned to their knees, stomachs and even backs on Monday (December 16) to finish their annual December pilgrimage to the National Sanctuary of Saint Lazaro in the village of El Rincon outside Havana to pay tribute to Saint Lazaro "the Miraculous."
The annual pilgrimage involves fulfilling promises and praying or asking for favours from the saint. It's one of the most important religious events on the island, melding Afro-Cuban faiths with Roman Catholic beliefs that were marginalized for decades after the 1959 revolution.
This year's pilgrimage coincided with the 5th anniversary of the U.S. re-establishing diplomatic relations with the island under Democratic former President Barack Obama. However, since U.S. President Donald Trump won election in 2016, those relations have been put on the backburner.
Miguel Angel Torres, who was crawling on his chest toward the sanctuary, said Trump's politics were bad for the island.
"It's bad. It's bad because not only myself, but thousands of Cubans can't see their families," he said.
Saint Lazarus is associated with helping the sick, and many of the pilgrims go to ask the saint to cure relatives' ailments.
Yuniesky Gonzalez went to pay tribute to Saint Lazaro after his nephew began recovering from two open heart surgeries this year.
Devotees traditionally wear sackcloth and purple clothing as symbols of repentance and often make the long, hard journey barefoot or haul themselves along the ground on their hands and knees.
(Camera: Mario Fuentes Editing/Production: Rodrigo Gutierrez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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