A man who claims to be Jesus Christ and has been dressing up as such since 1979 has been banned from Britain in addition to being expelled from the United States and Venezuela. “This man believes he is Jesus Christ reincarnated despite being arrested more than 40 times,” says a report in Britain’s Daily Mirror.

“Brazilian preacher Inri Cristo, 66, dresses up as Christ and has been spreading his message to hundreds of ‘followers’ for decades. But not everyone appreciates his sermons, and the bearded man has spent plenty of time in police custody for his views on capitalism, abortion and even Christmas,” says the report.

According to Daily Mirror, “In fact, when Inri began his religious path in 1979 by visiting 27 countries, it resulted in him being expelled from the United States, Venezuela and Britain.

“He said he first experienced the revelation he was Christ during a religious fast in Santiago, Chile.”

The report says that since childhood Inri Cristo had been following a powerful voice that ‘speaks in his head’ but it was only on this occasion that it told him: “I am your Father. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.”

According to the report: And despite seeing himself as Jesus reborn, Inri says Christmas is just a day where the rich humiliate the poor.

He said: “It is a day when the little sons of the rich can show the gifts they received while the poor children only get a crumb.”

He added: “So it is a very sad day for anyone who sees things with the eyes that I see.”

He said: “I know that there are countless people scattered throughout Brazil and the world whose hearts beat together with mine.”

And that thought has kept him going, and he now runs his own church, the ‘Soust’ (Suprema Ordem Universal da Santíssima Trindade), on farmland outside Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

He calls this sanctuary the ‘New Jerusalem’.

He and his followers survive on homegrown fruit like bananas, avocados and mangos as well as a vegetable garden.

His eldest disciple, Abevere, has been following him for 32 years and is now 86 years old.

His youngest is now 24 years old and first met Inri when she was just a two years old.

His quirky life has led to critics saying he is mentally ill - an accusation he firmly denies.

He said: “I can be crazy but not dumb.”

He added: “Madness is different from dementia. It is the mother of philosophers, prophets and inventors.

“My mission is to prepare the elect, the survivors of the inevitable nuclear hecatomb that will culminate in the end of this chaotic world, for the formation of the new earthly society, which will strive to fulfill the Creator’s will.”

•Photo shows Inri Cristo, the self-proclaimed Christ, preaching in the midst of close disciples. Photo courtesy Daily Mirror.

Update news