A painting depicting the First Easter Sunday Mass in the Philippines that took place on Limasawa Island 500 years ago was unveiled in the Diocese of Maasin.
Maasin Bishop Prescioso Cantillas led the unveiling of the art work Monday, March 22, on the island ahead of the quincentennial celebration of the historic Mass.
A 10×5 acrylic painting by Dionisio Gayo, a member of the diocese’s youth ministry, depicts a priest at the center raising the Host before the Spanish troops and some natives of the island that is now part of the diocese.
“The painting is a liturgically accurate presentation of the very moment of the elevation of the Most Holy Body of Our Lord during the historic event of the First Easter Mass,” CBCP News quoted Fr. Mark Vincent Salang, the diocese’s chancellor.
“In creating it, the artist considered the observations and descriptions of Antonio Pigafetta in his chronicles of the Magellan expedition,” he added.
Titled “First Easter Mass in the Philippines”, the painting will be displayed in the planned Cultural Heritage Museum of the diocese.
It will be displayed at the pilgrim site in Limasawa until next week.
The ceremony coincided with the start of a nine-day Novena Mass leading to the grand celebration on March 31.