/ 21 March 2007

Worshippers flock to ‘bleeding’ print of Jesus

Worshippers in India’s remote Andaman islands are rushing for a glimpse of a picture of Jesus Christ amid reports that it was oozing blood, witnesses said on Wednesday.

Thousands of people, mostly Christians, mobbed the home of a bishop in Port Blair, capital of the Indian Ocean chain, to pray before the framed print, police said.

”The bleeding has stopped, but still people are visiting the bishop’s house to ask about the miracle,” said Eric Nathaniel, a local police officer who was the original owner of the picture.

Nathaniel said he had brought the portrait to the home of Paul Christopher, bishop of the Church of Northern India in the Andamans, where thousands of people were killed in the 2004 Asian tsunami.

”On March 8, at 8.30pm, my family and I returned home from shopping and as we entered the house we could not believe our eyes,” said Nathaniel, who belongs to the Andamans’ Nicobarese tribespeople.

”There was blood flowing from the portrait of Jesus Christ on a table in our dining room,” the officer said, adding that the ”bleeding” stopped on Monday.

”We lit candles and prayed and after some time the blood dried, but it was again there two days later. Blood also oozed from the hands and heart of another portrait of Jesus hung on the wall in the sitting room,” he said.

Nathaniel said he brought the picture to the bishop’s official home because he wanted people to see the ”miracle”.

Christopher was not present in Port Blair for comment, but other Catholic priests insisted a ”miracle” was in the works.

”It’s a sign that Jesus is crying because of our sinful ways,” said John Chrysostom, an Anglican priest posted in the island group. ”It’s a miracle and all should seek his blessings.” — Sapa-AFP