Christians around the world are marking Good Friday with re-enactments of the Crucifixion including devotees in the Philippines who really have their hands nailed to the cross.
From Australia to Europe and across to the Americas, worshippers playing Jesus Christ have been led through the streets by gangs of Romans before being hoisted onto crosses.
Church services and early morning ceremonies have been held to mark one of the holiest days in the Christian calender day when Jesus was said to have been killed on the cross.
Devout: Villagers in Guwahati, India sing hymns as a devotee dressed as Jesus Christ reenacts the crucifixion
Suffering: Indian devotees reenact the crucifixion to atone for their sins in GauhatiIndian Catholics re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during a ‘passion play’ tableau at the Sacred Heart Church in the city of SecunderabadWhipped: An Indian Christian dressed as Jesus Christ is whipped as he carries a cross during Good Friday procession in HyderabadCrown of thorns: An Indian Christian carries a cross through the streets of Mumbai
About two dozen Filipinos were nailed to crosses in an extreme display of devotion that the Catholic church looks down upon as a form of folk religion but appears powerless to stop.
The re-enactment of the passion of Jesus Christ draws thousands of tourists to the Pampanga region, 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital, to watch barefoot penitents flagellate themselves and a series of crucifixions on an artificial hill.
The practice, which took hold in the province about 60 years ago as form of religious vow by poor people seeking forgiveness, a cure for illness and the fulfilment of other wishes.
Real pain: Filipino christian Ruben Enaje, 53, is nailed to a wooden cross during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in San Fernando, Pampanga provincePain and suffering: A man portraying Christ winces as as he carries a cross through the streets of Mandaluyong, east of Manila, PhilippinesMob: Actors dressed as Romans carry Jesus, played by devout Christian Ruben Enaje, 53, along a dusty track in San Fernando, Pampanga province, north of ManilaA Filipino Christian devotee is nailed to a wooden cross at Cutud, Pampanga province, northern PhilippinesShow of faith: A Filipino penitent has his foot nailed to the cross during Good Friday rituals at San Jose, Pampanga province, northern PhilippinesFilipino Wilfredo Salvador, 57, was one of around two dozen Fillipinos to really be nailed to crosses to mark Good FridayRuben Enaje, 52, portraying Jesus Christ for the 27th time, hangs on a cross beside two other Christians portraying Dismas and Gestas, after he was nailed to the cross in San Pedro Cutud town, Pampanga province, north of ManilaBurden: Indonesians take part in a re-enactment of the crucifixion at the Raja Agung churchIndonesian Christians take part in a re-enactment of the Stations Of The Cross on Good Friday at the Raja Agung church on March 29, 2013 in Bintan Island, Indonesia
Catholics make up approximately 3 per cent of the population of the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia
An Indonesian Catholic looks celebrates Good Friday by taking part in a a reenactment of the crucifixion
Young Indonesian Christians join in the reenactment at the Raja Agung church in Bintan Island
Dozen of Indonesian Catholics follow in procession during a re-enactment of the crucifixion in Magelang, Central Java
An Indonesian Christian devotees carries a bamboo cross as he walks with others on a rice field in Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia
David Carnell, plays the part of Jesus Christ during a ‘Journey to the Cross’ procession to celebrate Good Friday in Sydney, Australia
The annual event by Sydeny’s Wesley Mission tells the Easter story in a modern Australia
Christ is led to his crucifixion in Bensheim, central Germany
Germany: An actor depicted Jesus is carried on the cross by a group of Romans in Bensheim, central Germany
A pilgrim carries a cross as she looks out across the sea during the Northern Cross pilgrimage as it makes its final leg of the journey to Holy Island, Berwick Upon Tweed
Pilgrims carry their wooden crosses as the Northern Cross pilgrimage makes its final leg of the journey to Holy Island
Christian pilgrims carry the Easter Cross over the snow covered fields to head to a small Good Friday service at St Andrews Church near Kiln Pit Hill, Northumberland
Christian pilgrims are pictured in Northumberland as Britain braces for one of the coldest Easter weekends on record
The crucifixion is re-enacted along the path where it is believed Jesus once walked now known as the ‘Via Dolorosa’, or the ‘Way of Suffering’
An actor playing Christ is attached to a cross during a reenactment of the crucifixion in Jerusalem’s Old City
Christian worshippers carry a cross towards the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem’s Old City
Passionate: Jesus carries a cross during a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross at the Sanctuary of Chimayo in Chimayo, New Mexico
Students playing Roman soldiers lead a man playing Jesus at the Sanctuary of Chimayo in Chimayo, New Mexico
The New Mexico students are part of a youth group from Our Lady of Sorrows church in Bernalillo, which re-enacts the Stations of the Cross every year
Suffering: Holy Week is celebrated in many Christian traditions during the week before Easter
Members of a religious brotherhood take part in a procession at la Laguna in Tenerife
A prisoner who will receive a pardon carries a cross as he takes part in a procession on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife
