Exorcisms have become common in certain areas of Mexico; and are sometimes very public affairs.

Check out a moving collection of images that were taken during an exorcism ceremony in May of 2011. The event took place at Pastor Hugo Alvarez’s ‘Church of the Divine Savior’ in Mexico City [map].

Observing the event was photojournalist Jan Sochor, who explains:
“Although the formal catholic rite of exorcism is rarely seen and must be only conducted by a designated priest, there are many Christian pastors and preachers (known as ‘exorcistas’) performing exorcism and prayers of liberation. Using their strong charisma, special skills and religous formulas, they command the evil spirit to depart a victim’s mind and body, usually invoking Jesus Christ or God to intervene in favour of a possessed person.”

In the images you see Pastor Alvarez at work, a girl praying during the ritual, a woman who “womits during the exorcism ritual, and more.

In 2001, Pastor Alvarez was referred to as a “jeans-wearing pastor with his roll-up-your-sleeves, get-down-to-business approach to Satan” by Jo Tuckman at The Guardian. His ministry, which involves taking on a handful of cases at a time, bears little resemblance to traditional Catholic Rite of Exorcism; although the goal is the same: to drive out the devil in the name of Jesus.

Tuckman reported at the time: “Pastor Alvarez is one of Mexico’s foremost exorcists, claiming to have chased the devil from over 5,000 people since taking charge of the Divine Saviour Ministry of Liberation in a working class area of Mexico City 18 years ago.”

All the photos in this collection can be viewed at Jan Sochor’s web page HERE. While you’re at it, view her other collections (they are very good) at her website: www.jansochor.com.