Cubans pay tribute to San Lazarus 'the miraculous,' ask for better US-Cuba relations
Record ID:
1448684
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: HAVANA, CUBA (DECEMBER 16, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS DEVOTEES TO SAINT LAZARO CRAWLING ON THEIR KNEES, STOMACH MAN CLEANING THE FACE OF ANOTHER PERSON DEVOTEE CRAWLING TOWARD THE NATIONAL SANCTUARY OF SAINT LAZARO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MIGUEL ANGEL TORRES, DEVOTEE TO SAINT LAZARO, COMMENTING ON POLITICS OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING: "That is bad. It's bad. It's bad because not only myself, but thousands of Cubans can't see their families, that is, it closes everything." VARIOUS OF DEVOTEE CRAWLING ON HIS BACK TOWARD SANCTUARY OF SAINT LAZARO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) YUNIESKY GONZALEZ, DEVOTEE TO SAINT LAZARO, SAYING: "I have a nephew that almost died from cardiac (problems). They did open heart surgery on him at three months and at seven months. I am fulfilling (this pilgrimage) because today my nephew is enjoying good health." DOLL OF SAINT LAZARO VARIOUS OF WOMAN HOLDING SAN LAZARO DOLL INSIDE THE SANCTUARY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEISY GALAN, DEVOTEE TO SAINT LAZARO, SAYING: "Five years ago the country had been getting better -- not everything but some things had gotten better. Since Donald Trump got in power, we've gone back (to before)."
- 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: LVA001BAD7P6R
- 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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