Ruben Enaje
Enaje (right)
Born1960 or 1961 (age 62–63)[1]
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Occupation(s)Carpenter, Construction worker
Known forBeing voluntarily crucified annually on Good Friday

Ruben Enaje is a Filipino carpenter, sign painter,[2] and former construction worker. He is noted for being crucified 34 times as of 2023.[3][4][5]

He has been crucified every year from 1986 through 2019 on Good Friday; the COVID-19 pandemic required that he skip crucifixion in the years 2020–2022.[6] He resumed his annual tradition of crucifixion in 2023, being crucified for his 34th time in San Pedro Cutud.[5]

Background

Enaje, who was once a construction worker in the Philippines, fell down from an unfinished building in Tarlac, and unexpectedly survived.[7] 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.[8] 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

Enaje's 34th reenactment of the crucifixion in 2023, which he stated would be his last

Enaje was crucified for his first time in 1985. He had promised God that he would be crucified 27 times, which came to pass in 2013.[9] 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.[10]

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).[11] He was crucified for the 34th time in 2023,[12] resuming his participation in the crucifixion after it was halted from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that his 34th reenactment of the crucifixion would be his last.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Orejas, Tonette (March 16, 2023). "PH's longest-serving 'Kristo' plans to end Lenten vow". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ Jaime Uribarri (April 22, 2011). "Christians in Philippines celebrate Good Friday by recreating crucifixion of Jesus". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  3. ↑ Orejas, Tonette (March 25, 2016). "15 crucified on Good Friday in Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ "No more pain for Philippine devotee nailed to cross for 32nd time". Reuters. March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.
  6. ↑ Cal, Ben (April 13, 2022). "Filipino penitent cancels 'crucifixion' anew due to Covid-19". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ↑ Crucifixion re-enactment is annual Good Friday rite in Philippines AP. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Hodari. "Suffered 22 times more than Jesus ever did". Oddee.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Only one more year to go for Ruben Enaje with his real crucifixions". Demotix. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Filipino nailed to cross prays for Belgium, PH". Manila Bulletin. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.
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