Exorcism in the Andes


    [I first learned of exorcist Hermes Cifuentes, better known as [Brother Hermes], through the local news media. His exorcisms fascinated me, so I decided to find out more. Many people are against what he does, but when I tracked down his phone number and called, he invited me to visit his retreat in La Cumbre, just north of Cali.

    Brother Hermes is a very religious man. As we spoke he wore a white tunic and held a crucifix in his hand. His retreat is a farm with a small chapel filled with Catholic icons. The place is very peaceful, with hens, pigeons and rabbits roaming. He tells the people who look to him for help that they shouldn’t believe in him, but rather in the power of God.

    It was only after I arrived that he told me he had two exorcisms to perform that same day, and that I could observe. We hiked up to the highest part of the farm, where there were two women dressed in white with their skin painted black, stretched out inside large rings drawn on the ground. The scene affected me deeply.

    Hermes began the ritual by praying and sprinkling them with perfume. I felt impotent to be unable to photograph this scene, since from the start I had agreed to just watch my first exorcism without my camera. I couldn’t bear the frustration so I asked Hermes’ assistant for permission. She whispered into his ear, and then approached the relatives of the women being treated, and they gestured permission for me to go ahead.

    I cautiously began to photograph as the women held crosses and chicken eggs in their hands, as Hermes prayed and asked the spirits what they were doing in the bodies of others. The women responded in strong voices that didn’t seem to be their own.

    I found it frightening, and suddenly one of the women crushed the eggs she was holding in a violent way. I felt something strange and had to take a deep breath before continuing to shoot. Eventually, both women woke up saying that they felt very weak, and began to ask their relatives what had happened. They didn’t remember anything]. – Jaime Saldarriaga via Reuters. (Photos by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)


    Hermes Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], prays after performing an exorcism on Gisela Marulanda, 23, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. Picture taken July 7, 2012. REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga (COLOMBIA - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION)




    Hermes Cifuentes, called [Brother Hermes], performs an exorcism to Marleny Munoz, 55, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




    Irma Beatriz, 46, who claims to be possessed by spirits, holds an egg and a cross during an exorcism ritual performed by Hermes Cifuentes in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




    Hermes Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], performs an exorcism on Marleny Munoz, 55, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




    Gisela Marulanda, 23, who claims to be possessed by spirits, participates in an exorcism ritual performed by Hermes Cifuentes (not pictured) in La Cumbre, Valle September 5, 2012. Cifuentes, who is known as [Brother Hermes], says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)


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Exorcism in the Andes


[I first learned of exorcist Hermes Cifuentes, better known as [Brother Hermes], through the local news media. His exorcisms fascinated me, so I decided to find out more. Many people are against what he does, but when I tracked down his phone number and called, he invited me to visit his retreat in La Cumbre, just north of Cali.

Brother Hermes is a very religious man. As we spoke he wore a white tunic and held a crucifix in his hand. His retreat is a farm with a small chapel filled with Catholic icons. The place is very peaceful, with hens, pigeons and rabbits roaming. He tells the people who look to him for help that they shouldn’t believe in him, but rather in the power of God.

It was only after I arrived that he told me he had two exorcisms to perform that same day, and that I could observe. We hiked up to the highest part of the farm, where there were two women dressed in white with their skin painted black, stretched out inside large rings drawn on the ground. The scene affected me deeply.

Hermes began the ritual by praying and sprinkling them with perfume. I felt impotent to be unable to photograph this scene, since from the start I had agreed to just watch my first exorcism without my camera. I couldn’t bear the frustration so I asked Hermes’ assistant for permission. She whispered into his ear, and then approached the relatives of the women being treated, and they gestured permission for me to go ahead.

I cautiously began to photograph as the women held crosses and chicken eggs in their hands, as Hermes prayed and asked the spirits what they were doing in the bodies of others. The women responded in strong voices that didn’t seem to be their own.

I found it frightening, and suddenly one of the women crushed the eggs she was holding in a violent way. I felt something strange and had to take a deep breath before continuing to shoot. Eventually, both women woke up saying that they felt very weak, and began to ask their relatives what had happened. They didn’t remember anything]. – Jaime Saldarriaga via Reuters. (Photos by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)


Hermes Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], prays after performing an exorcism on Gisela Marulanda, 23, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. Picture taken July 7, 2012. REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga (COLOMBIA - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION)




Hermes Cifuentes, called [Brother Hermes], performs an exorcism to Marleny Munoz, 55, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




Irma Beatriz, 46, who claims to be possessed by spirits, holds an egg and a cross during an exorcism ritual performed by Hermes Cifuentes in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




Hermes Cifuentes, who is also known as [Brother Hermes], performs an exorcism on Marleny Munoz, 55, who claims to be possessed by spirits in La Cumbre, Valle July 7, 2012. Cifuentes says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)




Gisela Marulanda, 23, who claims to be possessed by spirits, participates in an exorcism ritual performed by Hermes Cifuentes (not pictured) in La Cumbre, Valle September 5, 2012. Cifuentes, who is known as [Brother Hermes], says he has performed more than 35,000 exorcism rituals in the past 25 years. (Photo by Jaime Saldarriaga/Reuters)


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