Ruben Enaje is a Filipino carpenter, sign painter,[2] and former construction worker. He is noted for being crucified 35 times as of 2024.[3][4][5] He has been crucified every year on Good Friday since 1986, except from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] In 2024, he was crucified for the 35th time.[8]
Ruben Enaje | |
|---|---|
 Enaje (right) | |
| Born | 1960 or 1961 (age 63–64)[1] San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation(s) | Carpenter, Construction worker |
| Known for | Being voluntarily crucified annually on Good Friday |
Background
editEnaje, who was once a construction worker in the Philippines, fell down from an unfinished building in Tarlac, and unexpectedly survived.[9] After the incident, saying that it was to thank the Lord for saving him, Enaje started participating in crucifixions, of his own free will, in a ritual done on Good Friday every year.[10] Initially done only for nine years since the incident, he continued with his another set of nine years as a petition for the healing of his daughter from asthma and another nine years for the good health of his wife.[1]
Crucifixions
edit
Enaje was crucified for his first time in 1986. He had promised God that he would be crucified 27 times, which came to pass in 2013.[11] He continued thereafter as there were no replacements found. He offered his 30th crucifixion, in 2016, to the people of Belgium, who had recently suffered from a terrorist attack, and prayed for a more peaceful outcome of the 2016 Philippine general election.[12]
In 2019, Enaje re-iterated his hopes to finally find a replacement, having been crucified once a year for 33 years (the same number of years that Jesus was alive).[13] He was crucified for the 34th time in 2023,[14] resuming his participation in the crucifixion after it was halted from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He initially said that such enactment would be his last.[1] However, he was crucified once again in his 35th reenactment on the following Good Friday for world peace, especially for the war in Ukraine, Gaza, and the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.[15][16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Orejas, Tonette (March 16, 2023). "PH's longest-serving 'Kristo' plans to end Lenten vow". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Jaime Uribarri (April 22, 2011). "Christians in Philippines celebrate Good Friday by recreating crucifixion of Jesus". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Orejas, Tonette (March 25, 2016). "15 crucified on Good Friday in Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ^ "No more pain for Philippine devotee nailed to cross for 32nd time". Reuters. March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.
- ^ Cal, Ben (April 13, 2022). "Filipino penitent cancels 'crucifixion' anew due to Covid-19". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Portugal, Adrian (March 29, 2024). "Philippines' Catholic devotees nailed to crosses to re-enact crucifixion". Reuters. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ "A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace". AP News. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Crucifixion re-enactment is annual Good Friday rite in Philippines AP. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Hodari. "Suffered 22 times more than Jesus ever did". Oddee.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ "Only one more year to go for Ruben Enaje with his real crucifixions". Demotix. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ "Filipino nailed to cross prays for Belgium, PH". Manila Bulletin. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ^ "Every year a Filipino man marks Good Friday with an actual crucifixion. He just did it for the 33rd time". CNN. April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.
- ^ Gomez, Jim (March 29, 2024). "Filipino man to be nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace". Associated Press.
- ^ Ord, Ian (March 29, 2014). "Ruben Enaje: The annual live crucifixion in the Philippines in 2024". Where Sidewalks End. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
