Cubans make annual pilgrimage to St. Lazarus' church

Thousands of Cubans on Thursday flocked to the small town of Rincon, on the outskirts of the capital Havana, to make good on promises to St. Lazarus.

Some of them arrived at the Church of St. Lazarus limping, and others came on their hands and knees, in order to fulfil their promises to one of Cuba's most revered saints.

One pilgrim, Carlos Calderon, crawled to the church with his daughter on his back.

"I made a promise for 17 years for my daughter and I have been fulfilling it for six years," he said.

"I will continue doing it as long as I have the strength and will, and with my daughter on me all the time."

The faithful believe they are repaying the saint for good deeds attributed to his benevolence.

While most came to pay homage to Lazarus, others came to honor an African deity, Babalu Aye.

Centuries ago, beliefs in Roman Catholic saints merged with Yoruba deities brought to the island by African slaves.

As a result, African deities have a corresponding Catholic saint, in a distinctly Cuban fusion of faiths.

Authorities were taking extra medical precautions this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, with medics set up outside the church.