Holy Week in Mompox, Colombia
Holy Week in Mompox, Colombia
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself during a penance ritual as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man kneels while praying as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man kneels while praying as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man with his face covered by a veil whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man with his face covered by a veil whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself during a penance ritual as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man whips himself during a penance ritual as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man prays at a prayer station marked by a wooden cross during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man prays at a prayer station marked by a wooden cross during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself during a penance ritual as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man whips himself during a penance ritual as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man kneels while praying as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man kneels while praying as part of the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.
An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia. An Afro-Colombian man whips himself as part of a self-punishment ritual during the Holy Week religious procession in Santo Tomás, Colombia.

Holy Week in Santo Tomás, Colombia

Santo Tomás, Colombia – March 2024

Every year on Good Friday, in a village among the swamps near the Caribbean coast, a few dozen men and women of all ages walk a three-kilometer journey, continuously whipping their backs with a discipline and voluntarily enduring pain and suffering — either to fulfill vows they made to their saints in the past or to seek forgiveness for their sins through penance. Although the self-flagellation tradition has been practiced for decades in this area, the Catholic Church authorities remain reserved toward this expression of faith, and it has never been officially recognized.

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Holy Week in Mompox, Colombia
Holy Week in Mompox, Colombia