Miraculous 400-year-old image of crucified Christ






ILOCOS SUR – The San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish in the town of Sinait in this province is a favorite pilgrim site among locals and devotees. It enshrines the miraculous 400-year-old image of Sto. Cristo Milagroso or Apo Lakay.   

The miraculous image traces its origin to an event in 1620, when some fishermen in boundary of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Badoc, Ilocos Norte found a large wooden crate floating. They hauled it ashore and when they opened the crate, they saw the life-sized image of the crucified Christ with dark features made of hard wood. The cross stands 254 centimeters high.

Along with this image is a smaller image of Our Lady holding the infant Jesus. The said image is now in Badoc, Ilocos Norte as according to the story this is the one the people of Badoc were able to carry, while the image of Sto Cristo was carried easily by the people of Sinait.

It is believed that the crate containing the precious items are from Japan, at that time 1614 onwards there is a persecution in Japan against Christians. The Japanese Christians must have saved these images from desecration and destruction by floating them at the sea.

It is said that since the image was placed in the town of Sinait, a number of miracles, answered prayers and interventions were recorded attributing to Apo Lakay.

“Sinasabi ng mga nakakausap ko, bumabalik-balik sila dito dahil nagkakatotoo ang mga hinihiling nila, gumagaling ang kanilang mga sakit kaya naging panata na nila na bisitahin si Apo Lakay” said Sinait, Ilocos Sur Parish Priest Fr. Jovell Soller.

“Madami na siyang biyaya na ibinigay sa pamilya ko, yung tatlo anak ko dito ko hiniling na sana makapasa sila sa board examination at natupad. May sakit akong diabetes noon pa pero dahil sa pananampalataya ko kay Apo Lakay, hindi ko gaanong ramdam at malakas pa ako at nakakapasok pa sa trabaho” said Edwin Factora.


To this day the 400-year-old image is well preserved maintaining its original structure and color. It is placed at the main altar of Sinait Church and a portion of the image can be touch by devotees.



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