Manaus Agile tourism and culture of AmazonasWay of the Cross
In Manaus, the staging of the Way of the Cross began at 9am local time, leaving the Cathedral Nossa Senhora da Conceição, the Mother Church, towards the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in the Praça 14 neighborhood. It was over two hours of procession through the city streets with 14 stops, representing the stations of the Passion of the Christ. Five thousand people participated in the walk, according to the Military Police.
The nutritionist Rosana Freitas has accompanied the Way of the Cross in the capital of Amazonas for 26 years. "It is here that we seek the strength to continue our lives. At a time when our country is facing so many difficulties, this is where we seek the faith to continue, to set an example at home for our children and, for our friends, a testimony of life and faith", she said.
Many people walked the Way of the Cross barefoot, as a way to pay their promises. "I had an accident in 1984 and spent 10 months without walking. Then I said: if I ever walk again, I will follow the procession barefoot until the end of my life. I'll come even if it rains or if it is sunny", said the retired Valmira Santos.
Emotion on the faces of the faithful
The emotion took over many of the faithful during the Stations of the Cross. With tears in her eyes, the self-employed Jaqueline Bernardino accompanied the procession as a form of gratitude.
"Tears of joy for the life that God gives us. Life is very difficult, but with God it becomes so easy. Everything becomes easy when we put God in front of everything. Every day we have to wake up and give thanks for health and life," he said. Around 3 pm, the procession of the Dead Christ, as it is known, started the inverse way of the Via Crucis: from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima to the Matriz Church.
The Holy Week celebrations in Manaus continue this Saturday. "On Hallelujah Saturday we will have the apex of this festive period of Easter. It is the celebration of the Easter Vigil, in which Christians will celebrate Christ's victory over death. In the cathedral, the time of this vigil will be at 8 pm. But it is important to know that, in all parishes and missionary areas in Manaus, we will have the Easter vigil", informed Father Charles Cunha.
