"EL SANTO CRISTO MILAGROSO"

In this Church of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, is a life size Black Crucified Christ which is believed to have come from Nagasaki, Japan in 1620. The early Spanish Missionaries must have brought images for the early Japanese Christians. Christians were persecuted in 1597, the Japanese converts must have the anger of the rulers and not to be detected as Christians.

The images of the Black Crucifix and of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed in a box must have drifted in the sea until they reached the boundary shores of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, an adjacent town in Ilocos Norte, in 1620. The Black Christ was taken to the Church of Sinait and it was locally known as: "El Santo Cristo Milagroso," whle the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken to Badoc Church known as: "La Virgen Milagrosa."

In 1656, the Black Crucifix was taken to Vigan, the capital town of Ilocos Sur, because an epidemic was raging and through the devotion of the people many were cured. Hence, it is considered as intercessor of all kinds of afflictions and illnesses. From that time on, devotion to the Santo Cristo Milagroso spread. Every Friday, many people from other places flock to the Sanctuary of Sinait for devotion and intercession especially on the Feast of Santo Cristo Milagroso on every 3rd day of May.