Faithful pray in street as coronavirus overshadows Cuban feast days

Record ID: 1570607

  • Title: Faithful pray in street as coronavirus overshadows Cuban feast days
  • Date: 8th September 2020
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (SEPTEMBER 7, 2020) (REUTERS) STATUE OF THE VIRGIN OF REGLA FAITHFUL OUTSIDE CHURCH WITH STATUE OF THE VIRGIN OF REGLA WOMAN CLEANSING HERSELF WITH FLOWERS BY SHORE, AS PER FEAST DAY TRADITION FLOWERS FLOATING BY SHORE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL, YAIMARA ROIPERA, SAYING: "I have come to ask for a blessing for all of the country, all of the world, for all reli
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2020 20:32
  • Keywords: Cuba Havana church faithful feast day pray procession worshippers
  • Location: HAVANA, CUBA
  • City: HAVANA, CUBA
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Cuba,South America / Central America,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA003CUTXV0N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Faith put to the test in Havana, as Cubans mark feast day celebrations this week under the shadow of coronavirus and praying for a swift end to the pandemic.
    Havana's Our Lady of Charity church was closed for the traditional feast day mass on Tuesday (September 8). Instead, faithful kept their distance from each other and filled the street outside for their own prayer service.
    This is an annual tradition on the Caribbean island, normally attracting scores of faithful for a procession filled with bright sunflowers that are laid in honour of the saint.
    But with quarantine restrictions in place, authorities have stopped this year's march. In its place is a radio and television mass service that is being broadcast to homes.
    On Monday (September 7), Cubans also prayed to the Virgin of Regla, also known as Yemaya. The term Yemaya traces its roots to Africa and arrived to Cuba during the slave trade.
    She is the patron saint of Regla and is regarded as the goddess of the sea and maternity.
    With the traditional mass service cancelled, some believers took to Cuba's Caribbean shore, cleansing themselves with flowers and praying for good health and an end to the coronavirus.
    As of Tuesday (September 8), Cuba has reported over 4,300 cases and 104 deaths.
    (Production: Mario Fuentes, Nelson Gonzalez, Anett Rios, Rodrigo Gutierrez, Paul Vieira)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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