The Jesus of Cutod.

Over 20 times he has hung on the cross, in the Philippines is a legend. Every year is Ruben Enhaije his nails through hands - during a bloody Good Friday ritual in which passion with ancient superstition is mixed.

 

The man groans with pain. But inexorably, the hammer on the nail, pushing the metal piece ever deeper into the hand of the unfortunate. Bumm, Bumm, Bumm! Then the other hand turn. A few strokes, a few cries of pain, then it's done: Both hands are nailed to the wood.

Assistant set up the ten-meter high cross on which the man now hangs groans. A crown of thorns is placed on his shoulder-length hair, his robe is white. Under him, the tormentors laugh, all in the arms of Roman legionaries. Disciples cry, lamenting collect the arms into the sky. In addition there is a huge crowd of onlookers. The man on the cross is not Jesus Christ. His name is Ruben Enhaije.

Ten minutes the ordeal, he will back down from the cross made. It stands on a sonnenheißen place near Cutod, well an hour away from Manila. An assistant pulls the nails from the wood, Ruben is in an alcohol-filled jam jar. He will again next year need.

Already more than 20 times was the 48-year-old to cross. The first time this happened the 1986th A year earlier was the painter of a bamboo scaffold slipped. He fell three stories deep, before he aufschlug. "At first I thought, I'm dead," says Ruben. Then he was directed to. "Nothing was broken. Schramme time a failure I had." To thank you for this first resurrection put Ruben Enhaije from a vow. "Whenever God calls me, I am crucified," said the father of three children.

Mixture of Christianity and superstition

Since then, he is part of the spectacle, which since 1962 for the Easter period after Cutod attracts thousands. Men in drag repented heavy crosses, beat passers to them. This brute participation in Jesus' suffering is a blessing for next year guarantee. Not only in the Philippines blend of Christian beliefs and ancient superstition. Rarely, however, is the desire of personal anguish is so great. Even children with flagellate branches and then to admire their stripes.

The drama always starts about three miles from the center guide ". There, the participants gather at a small stage. Prayers and chants ring from loudspeakers. Smoking Romans sweating in their plastic armor, phoned Mary, Pontius Pilate is a microphone test. They all expect Ruben, you here the "Jesus of Cutod called. He appears to be a short process. A few as a Jewish high priest clad men sue him, Jesus remains steadfast, at the end of Pontius Pilate washes his hands in innocence.

Finally schultert Jesus the cross, the procession is in motion.

The lead train young men with bare torsos to. For this, their heads covered by scarves. With whips and leather, hemp beat them on the back, they bleed dramatically. Bystanders are bespritzt, on the way parked cars act as a red rain hit. Sometimes shave the men, then comes a helper and scratched them with glass shards new wounds into the flesh. Now they bleed more. At the end, small scars. And the hope of curing a disease, to hit the Lotto, to the great love of happiness. That is the sense of self.

Crown of thorns from Makabuhay

Quietly, almost left to bear his cross Ruben Enhaije. Three times he falls on his way - three times, just as Jesus was at that time. Maria immediately throws himself beside him, breaks out in mourning. Maria is Aileli, a woman from the village Rubens. She is only 20, so much younger than her "son". "It makes nothing at all," says Aileli, "but it's just a question of honor of God." Ruben nods and rises again. A Roman refreshing water pours it over her head.

The Roman is Romeo Diamse, Rubens uncle. He is also the Ruben nails through the hands is proposing. "I just trust him," says Ruben, "he knows exactly where he must go the nails so that they run smoothly."

In the square near Cutod, the 'indicative place', the amount distributed to a small hill. A fence prevents the curious, Ruben to come too close. TV cameras are ready, photographers jostle for the best seats. All waiting for Romeo to uncle indeed progressing. Slowly rotate the glass to marmalade and brings out the nails.

It is about ten centimeters long steel pins, square front and very pointed angefeilt. Ruben used it for a decade. "Just days before my hands start to hurt," says Ruben. "I know now, I soon will Jesus appear in a dream and commanded me to be crucified again."

Then he gets his white robe, and cleans the crown of thorns. It is manufactured from Makabuhay, a plant of the Philippine folk medicine, against rheumatism, arthritis and bruises help. Hundreds of patients come each year to Ruben Enhaije to get from the man who used to heal bone fell from heaven, from their suffering to redeem.

A dozen times on the Cross

Ruben looks around. He is not the only "offender". Up to four crosses stand side by side, almost in the chord will be crucified. Even foreigners are now underneath. Angelito Manasala also waiting for his "execution". "A few years ago, I was very sick," says the 41-year-olds. "The shroud was already on me." The disease, he says, was the punishment for a life as a "drunkard and Raufbold". "But God gave me a new chance."

Meanwhile, he is already a dozen times to cross. Then, "said Angelito, now as a healer in Cutod works," I have new strength. This time I and other people back healthy. "Even the demons he could drive out now. It succeeded with the nails of the Cross which he possessed at the forehead and symbolically holds now." But money can I do not, otherwise I lose my strength. "

Angelito provides high Ruben, now beaten to the cross is. Ruben smiles as he is down again. "I prayed, I felt God," he says. Uncle Romeo disinfected the wounds, wrapped it with a federation. Then the "Jesus of Cutod" through the crowd, which is awesome shares. Some touch it gently, he blesses them with bandaged hands. "Still it does not hurt," says Ruben. For the worst case, he has at home painkillers.

A short, smothered cry. Ruben turns around. There is now Angelito on the cross, his face distorted by pain. Relentless, the hammer too. Once, twice, three times. Bumm, Bumm, Bumm.