With their bare backs covered in blood and their faces hidden by hoods, devoted Catholics in the Philippines were today atoning for their sins by taking part in gory Maundy Thursday self-flagellation rituals.
The barefoot penitents walk through the streets whipping themselves or with pointed wooden sticks tied to their arms as they take part in the rituals to atone for their sins, seek a better life or give thanks.
Every year thousands of foreign and local visitors line the streets to watch the rituals in San Fernando, north of Manila, and the suburban Mandaluyong, to the east of Manila.
The hooded and barefoot penitents in San Fernando lash their backs as they make their way along narrow roads which lead to a dusty hill, where other men dressed as Jesus Christ are nailed to wooden crosses.
The Catholic Church in the country disapproves of the rituals and warns such expressions of faith could actually take away from the real meaning of Lent.
According to UCANews.com, Catholic bishops in the Philippines this week warned penitents not to carry out the rituals of self-flagellation and crucifixion as part of this year's Good Friday observances.
Ritual: Hooded penitents in the Philippines flagellate themselves as part of the Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins in Mandaluyong, east of Manila
Painful: Devotees with wooden stakes tied to their arms pray during a painful ritual as part of the observance of Maundy Thursday in Mandaluyong city
Wounds: A penitent lies on the ground after flagellating himself during a Holy Week ritual to atone for his sin, on a street in Mandaluyong City
Disapproval: The Catholic Church disapproves of the rituals and warn such expressions of faith could actually take away from the real meaning of Lent
Prayers: Flagellants pray in front of the altar while performing their ritual during the observance of Maundy Thursday in Mandaluyong
Tradition: Every year thousands of foreign and local visitors watch the rituals in San Fernando, north of Manila, and the suburban Mandaluyong, to the east of Manila
Rites: A penitent lies on the floor during a ritual as part of Maundy Thursday rites in Mandaluyong city in the Philippines
Self-flagellation: A Filipino flagellant prays as he whips his back in front of a church on Maundy Thursday, in San Fernando city
Hooded: Filipino penitents make their way through the streets with wooden sticks tied to their arms as part of painful rituals, which are frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country
Devoted: The penitents cover their faces with hoods and kneel down in the street as they whip themselves as part of the Maundy Thursday ritual
Portrayal: A man portrays Christ during a Cenakulo or passion play that re-enacts the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ as part of the Maundy Thursday rites in Mandaluyong
Penitents: Every year, thousands of foreign and local visitors flock to San Pedro Cutud village, San Fernando city, to watch hooded and barefoot penitents lash their backs
Journey: The hooded and barefoot penitents in San Fernando lash their backs as they make their way along narrow roads which lead to a dusty hill, where other men dressed as Jesus Christ are nailed to wooden crosses
Observance: Filipino flagellants whip their backs in front of a church on Maundy Thursday, in San Fernando city, north of Manila, in the Philippines
Rituals: Two young boys whip the back of a penitent outside a church on Maundy Thursday, in San Fernando city
Catholic bishops in the Philippines this week warned penitents not to self-flagellate themselves during the Good Friday observances
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