The New Promised Land
Stan Raucher | Loreto Region, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
Photographer: Stan Raucher
Exhibit Title: The New Promised Land
Location: Loreto Region, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
This series documents Los Israelitas, an evangelical Christian sect living deep in the Amazon rainforest. The group was founded by Ezequiel Gamonal, a shoemaker from southern Peru, who converted from Catholic to Seventh-day Adventist. He then created this sect, which incorporates early Christian beliefs and practices detailed in the Old and New Testaments. Gamonal declared that God instructed him to establish the new Israel, and many of his followers left their homes to colonize the remote regions that Gamonal proclaimed to be The New Promised Land.
Los Israelitas worship Jesus, but reject Catholic doctrines and traditions created after the time of Constantine in the fourth century. They do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, and there are no crosses or representation of Jesus, Mary or Saints to be found anywhere. They adhere to the Ten Commandments, observe the Sabbath on Saturdays, and celebrate the Old Testament holidays of Passover, Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles.
These photos, taken during multiple visits to their remote village in May 2013 and June 2014, provide a glimpse into the religious celebrations of Los Israelitas.
The New Promised Land
A lengthy journey down the Amazon River leads to a remarkable discovery that harkens back to ancient times. Los Israelitas, an evangelical Christian sect that blends early biblical beliefs with the pageantry of Hollywood cinema, live in small agricultural villages scattered along the banks of the river. The group, officially known as Asociación Evangélica de la Misión Israelita del Nuevo Pacto Universal (AEMINPU), was created by Ezequiel Gamonal, a shoemaker from southern Peru who enjoyed the movies of Cecil B. DeMille. Gamonal converted from Catholic to Seventh-day Adventist. Several years later, he declared that God had instructed him to establish the new Israel, and many of his followers left their homes throughout Peru to colonize the remote regions in the Amazon rainforest that Gamonal proclaimed to be The New Promised Land.
I encountered Los Israelitas while traveling on a small boat on the Amazon River in 2013. On weekdays, the men wear ordinary clothing and tuck their long hair under baseball caps while they work the fields, fish or tend their livestock. When we reached their village landing, they invited me to tour their community. After the tour, they took out their well-worn bibles, containing both the Old and New Testaments, and told me about some of their religious beliefs and practices. They adhere to the Ten Commandments and insist that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday. They also believe that men should not cut their hair or beards and that women and girls should keep their hair covered. I learned that although they worship Jesus, they reject the Catholic doctrines and traditions created after the time of Constantine in the fourth century. They do not observe Christmas or Easter, and there are no crosses or representation of Jesus, Mary or Saints to be found anywhere.
They invited me to their elaborate Sabbath services on the following Saturday. During the celebration, men dress in flowing robes, women wear their finest garb, and young girls carry tambourines festooned with colorful ribbons. Their sanctuary, a long dirt-floor building with a corrugated metal roof, is divided by a central aisle with separate entrances and seating for men and women. A large copy of the Ten Commandments is on display at the front of the sanctuary, along with a small ark and an incense burner. Their services begin early in the morning with bible readings, sermons, and the singing of hymns accompanied by music from a brass band. A hearty meal is served in the common dining room at midday, and the congregation then returns to the sanctuary for more prayers, hymns and readings.
In a building adjacent to the sanctuary, the priests prepare an animal sacrifice, which may be a few small doves, a lamb or even a full-grown bull. The sacrifice is carefully cleaned, rubbed with salt and anointed with olive oil. They also prepare special bread, fried in olive oil, to be added to the burnt offering. The priests then construct a large pyre on the altar outside of the sanctuary and place the offering on the flames, while the congregation – with men and the brass band on one side of the altar and women and young girls shaking tambourines on the other – gathers outside to look on, sing and pray.
Los Israelitas also hold week-long celebrations three times each year for the Old Testament holidays of Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. After spending four days as their guest in 2013, I was delighted that they invited me to return for five days during their 2014 Pentecost holiday. These photos provide a glimpse into the religious celebrations of Los Israelitas, a community that has melded ancient practices with their daily lives deep in the Amazon rain forest.
stanraucher@yahoo.com
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