A 65-year-old Filipino carpenter was literally nailed to a cross for the 37th time on Good Friday 2026, finally ending a four-decade tradition of extreme religious devotion that began after he survived a near-fatal accident in 1986.
Story Snapshot
- Ruben Enaje underwent actual crucifixion with nails driven through his palms for the 37th and final time in Pampanga, Philippines
- He declined the traditional whipping and reduced physical trauma due to age and lung deterioration from decades of paint fume exposure
- The annual ritual draws 5,000-10,000 flagellants and hundreds of spectators, despite Catholic Church discouragement of such extreme penance
- Enaje prayed for global peace amid conflicts in three countries, marking the end of his 37-year devotional practice that survived multiple “final” announcements
Decades-Long Devotion Ends on Good Friday
Ruben Enaje completed his 37th and final crucifixion on April 3, 2026, in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, Philippines, as part of the annual Good Friday Lenten rites. The 65-year-old carpenter and sign painter underwent the ritual with significant modifications, declining the traditional whipping, kicking, and hitting by actors portraying Roman soldiers. Only his palms were nailed to the cross while his feet remained unharmed, and he carried a lighter 20-kilogram cross instead of the usual 37-kilogram burden. After four years of contemplation, Enaje declared this his definitive final act despite multiple previous retirement announcements.
Origins in a Life-Threatening Fall
Enaje began this extreme devotional practice in 1986 after surviving a near-fatal fall from a three-story building, vowing the annual crucifixion as thanks to God for sparing his life. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites tradition itself dates to 1962, initiated by faith healer Francisco “Puong” Anza, with participants undergoing actual nailing to crosses using two-inch alcohol-sterilized nails hammered into hands and feet. Participants typically hang for approximately 10 minutes as penance or gratitude. Enaje participated annually except during 2020-2022 when COVID-19 paused the tradition, accumulating 36 crucifixions by 2025 before this final act.
Health Concerns Override Community Pressure
Enaje’s wife Juanita tearfully urged him to quit due to serious health risks from his age and lung deterioration caused by decades of paint fume exposure from his sign-painting work. Despite previous retirement announcements in 2019 after his 33rd crucifixion, 2023 after his 34th, and 2025 after his 36th, villagers repeatedly requested he continue as a proxy for their prayers, delaying his exit. For the 2026 ritual, health and age became decisive factors, prompting the safety modifications and firm retirement decision. The event drew between 5,000 and 10,000 flagellants who whipped themselves bloody alongside Enaje’s crucifixion, maintaining the spectacle that attracts hundreds of spectators and boosts local tourism.
Prayers for Global Peace Amid Conflict
During his final crucifixion, Enaje prayed for global peace amid conflicts affecting three countries, echoing his 2024 dedication to peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and the South China Sea. The Catholic Church discourages such extreme forms of penance but tolerates the practice as cultural expression, creating tension between official doctrine and local folk devotion. City tourism chief Ching Pangilinan noted the massive scale of participation, with the annual event elevating the Philippines’ Holy Week rites as a global spectacle that influences similar self-flagellation practices across Asia. Enaje’s retirement creates a leadership void in the tradition, though other villagers continue to participate as “Christs” in the reenactment.
The end of Enaje’s 37-year run marks a significant transition for the San Pedro Cutud community, where his fame as the veteran “Kristo” ensured the tradition’s continuation and media attention. His decision prioritizes family concerns and personal health over community pressure, demonstrating the human cost of such extreme devotional practices. While the broader tradition continues with other participants, Enaje’s retirement after nearly four decades of literal sacrifice underscores the physical toll of practices that blur the line between faith expression and bodily harm, raising questions about where religious devotion ends and dangerous excess begins.
Sources:
Man who had himself nailed to a cross for 36th time says it’s his last
Veteran ‘Kristo’ ends 37-year crucifixion on Good Friday
Filipino villager nailed to cross for 35th time for Good Friday
