Cristo Negro (Portobelo)

Cristo Negro (Black Christ; also known as "Nazareno"; nicknames, "Naza", "el Negro", "el Negrito", "el Cristo", and "el Santo") is a wooden statue of Jesus Christ in Iglesia de San Felipe, a Roman Catholic parish church located in Portobelo, Panama. The statue was found on the shores of the town's harbour. Life size, it is adorned with a robe that is changed twice a year, once during the Festival of the Black Christ and during Holy Week. Black Christ is venerated throughout the year, most particularly on October 21, during the Festival of the Black Christ.

A similar image called The Black Nazarene is venerated in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.

The origins of the statue are unclear. The wooden image of Christ washed ashore at Portobolo, picked up by fishermen. It was initially housed in a small church and venerated. After Iglesia de San Felipe was built, the statue was installed there. One legend says that the statue was carved in Spain. Some time during the 17th century (an exact date is not identified), it was carried in a Colombian vessel to be installed in the New World. Due to a storm, the ship was forced to dock at Portobelo. When the ship was scheduled to depart, a sudden storm set in, preventing the ship to set sail; this happened repeatedly. Attributing this phenomenon to the statue, the superstitious sailors threw the box containing the statue into the sea and thereafter the storm subsided, and the ship moved on.

The statue is life-size and carries a cross. The image is carved of heavy cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) wood of dark brown colour. The image reflects emotional pain. It is deified in the church on a platform to the left of the altar. A gilded plaque with items linked with Christ's crucifixion, such as nails, a crown of thorns, and dice as used by the Roman soldiers adorns the statue.

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