The Ecce Homo icon of Cebu

It is the second religious icon in the Philippines after the Santo Nino de Cebu. It is an icon of the suffering Lord when he was presented by the crowd to his enemies wearing a purple robe and a crown of thorns. It is titled Ecce Homo or Behold the man, which were the words Pilate spoke when presenting him to the people (John 19:5). The Ecce Homo devotion started in Europe during the 15th century and earlier in the eastern rite churches. It gained popularity especially in Valletta, Malta and in Azores, Portugal. The Ecce Homo can also be seen in Holy Week processions in the Philippines

Left, The Ecce Homo of Valletta, Malta, middle, the Senhor Santo Cristo of Azores, right, Christ the Bridegroom icon which is a Byzantine icon
The Ecce Homo was one of the three gifts of Ferdinand Magellan to the newly Christianized natives of the Philippines. He gave the Santo Nino to Queen Hara Humamay baptized as Juana, he gave the Ecce Homo to her husband Rajah Humabon baptized as Carlos, and he gave the Our Lady of the Cotta to the people. The image of Our Lady of the Cotta was said to be lost during World War II. On August 20, 1572, as a Spaniard was laying the foundation of his house, he discovered a coffin. Upon opening it, he found the dried remains of Carlos (Humabon) buried with him the Ecce Homo icon. (It was also the day Miguel Lopez de Legazpi died)
                                              A painting of the discovery of the icon
The icon was later enshrined in the Santo Nino church and was kept during World War II. In 1965, for the 4th centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines, the icon was brought to the San Agustin Church in Manila, where it remained until 2011. The Ecce Homo stayed in an altar near the Lourdes grotto replica in Santo Nino until 2019, when the icon was enthroned in his new altar. The feast of the Ecce Homo is every August 20, and Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. 


 

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