Moriones Festival - story of Longinus who was blind in one eye

MORIONES FESTIVAL

The Festival

In the island of Marinduque, Moriones Festival is a weeklong celebration that starts on Holy Monday and progresses until Easter Sunday as the reenactment of Longinus, a roman centurion, is performed in pantomime. The reenactment tells the story of Longinus who was blind in one eye,was able to see again during the cruxificion of Jesus Christ.
People that take part in this religious event are commonly seen in Roman costumes, wear masks or helmets, and bright colored tunic of the ancient Romans, making the towns of Sta. Cruz, Gasan, Buenavista, Boac and Mogpog, one gigantic stage.
Pabasa (recitation of the Christís passion), an unique tradition is held in various towns as a part of the observance of the Lenten celebration in Marinduque. Reenactment of the Christís calvary to the cross called the ìVia Crusisî is also practiced, while ìantiposî whip themselves as an atonement for their sins through inflicting pain and suffering to themselves. There were some who would carry a wooden cross and let be crucified
On Good Friday, after 3 oí clock in the afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, where old women are chanting verses from the Holy Bible in the wake of the dead Christ.

Origin

Moriones came from the word ìMorionî, a spanish word which means a mask or helmet, protection for the face, which is a part of a medieval Roman armor. It is also the term used for the masked and costumed penitents who would roam around in the streets of the town for 7 days, from Holy Monday through Easter Sunday.
Legend has it that when Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ, the blood from the wound spurted hitting his blind eye and fully restored its sight. With this miraculous event, Longinus was converted to being Christian which is against his fellow centurions. Then serving as the guardians of the Christís tomb, he witnessed the resurrection of the Christ on the 3rd day, and he rushed to the town to spread what he had witnessed. Hearing this, the Chief Priest and the Scribes ordered soldiers to have him silenced by killing him. Longinus voluntarily surrendered but revealed to the people how he miraculously cured and stand witness to the ressurection of the Christ.
It is an anticipated moment when the reenactment reaches to its climax when Longinus, while praising the Lord, a soldier struck a sword and decapitates him.

History

In the year 1807, in Mogpog, the townís parish priest Fr. Dionisio Santiago, organized Moriones for the first time. He organized a group of actors who would perform reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Moriones is a term concocted in the 60ís by the media, though Marinduque people kept the original term ìMoryonanî. Participants all over the island are farmers and fishermen performs the age-old tradition as a vow of penance or a form of thanksgiving to the Christ.

all photos are protected by copyright - © anton sheker