MANILA, Philippines — A blessing ceremony for the replicas of the Black Nazarene and accompanying banners is scheduled today, January 2, as part of preparations for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, Quiapo Church officials said.

Silgen Cabrito from the Social Communications Department of Quiapo Church said in a statement that the blessing will take place at 1:30 PM, with organizers expecting some devotees to arrive early for the event.

At the same time, the third Novena Mass will be celebrated earlier in the day, at 12:15 PM, led by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Charles Brown. 

The Novena Mass serves as a spiritual preparation leading up to the main feast day, which traditionally draws millions of attendees.

The replicas will be part of a separate procession held in the days leading up to the grand event, the Traslacion on January 9.

The public is encouraged to join both the blessing ceremony and the Novena Mass, Cabrito said.

The feast of the Black Nazarene is an annual tradition known as the solemn transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno. 

In 2024, approximately 1,008,000 devotees participated in the procession while 60,500 followers  on average joined its hourly masses.