Thousands of faithful filled Caracas in emotional closure of the pilgrimage of the Nazarene of San Pablo (photos)

Thousands of faithful gathered this Sunday for the closure of the pilgrimage of the Nazarene of St. Paul, central figure of faith in Venezuela, celebrating 350 years of their consecration.

The procession, which lasted several weeks and toured various parishes in Caracas, culminated in the transfer of the image of the Nazarene from a church in the west of the city to the church of Our Lady of the Candelaria.

The Nazarene was taken on shoulders by devotees and transferred in the Papamóvil used by John Paul II during his visits to Venezuela, highlighting the historical and religious importance of the event.

The followers grouped as of the Nazarene or joined in caravan with their vehicles, carrying garments or purple objects, color that represents spiritual preparation and penance.

In the Church Our Lady of La Candelaria, where the image was received, the General Security Coordinator of the Basilica of Santa Teresa and the Pilgrimage, Dorian González, told Efe that he became devoted to the Nazarene when he asked him to help him graduate as an officer in the Military Academy of Venezuela.

«The day I graduated, I went on vacation, I went to the Basilica of Santa Teresa, I delivered my official saber as a cadet and, since then, I am there,» said González, who remembers that it serves in this church for 35 years.

He also stressed that around 250 people participated in the organization of this celebration and also valued the support of security forces such as the Bolivarian National Guard, the National Police, Civil Protection, Firefighters and others.

«Very happy because people, parishioners, have felt comfortable. We have fulfilled in all parishes,» González said.

Along the same lines, Vanesa Rodríguez, coordinator of the Brotherhood of the Nazarene of San Pablo in Caracas, told Efe that the activity was a «unique experience.»

«Testimonies of many who have healed, of many who have had difficult situations and asking the Nazarene and having faith have recovered,» Rodríguez said.

On the other hand, Deivy Oropeza, in charge of the social networks of the Brotherhood of the Nazarene, highlighted the emotion of the Caracas people and, in this sense, explained that from children to adults, even people with canes, they were grouped as the image.

Oropeza indicated that the Nazarene will arrive, on the night of this Sunday, in the mobile Pope to the Arciprestazgo of the Caracas Cathedral.

This year, the pilgrimage began on March 8 and included the visit to 11 churches.

The Nazarene of San Pablo is the oldest invocation in Venezuela and has thousands of faithful who assure that they have granted favors and requests.