Religion

VOODOO BATHS IN HAITI: FROM BEAUTY TO FIERCENESS

VOODOO BATHS IN HAITI: FROM BEAUTY TO FIERCENESS
Voodoo believers are about to kill a crying bull covered with a French flag as a sacrifice to the voodoo spirit of war Papa Ogoun Feray, praised as the founding spirit of the revolt of the slaves during French colonial rule of Saint-Domingue 200 years ago.

Every year in July, thousands of Haitians make a pilgrimage to several Haitian cities to seek protection of Voodoo spirits and Catholic saints during cleansing baths. Often spectacular, some of…

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IN THE LAND OF BLACK JERUSALEM

IN THE LAND OF BLACK JERUSALEM
Coptic female pilgrims reading the bible in Lalibela rock-hewn church, Ethiopia

Black Jerusalem is the name given to Lalibela, the ancient northern capital of Abyssinia and monastic city. Due to its eleven Coptic orthodox cave churches concealed in the volcanic rock,…

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A RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS EVE SOMEWHAT SPECIAL

A RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS EVE SOMEWHAT SPECIAL
Bishop Nestor of Chersonesus celebrating Russian Christmas in the Church of the Three Holy HIerarchs in Paris, France

In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, at the Church of the Three Saints-Doctors, seat of the Diocese of Chersonesus of the Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian diaspora believers…

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FAITH IN GUINEA: BETWEEN OPENNESS AND RIGOR

FAITH IN GUINEA: BETWEEN OPENNESS AND RIGOR
Imam getting ready to perform a Muslim baby naming ceremony in Macenta, ethnic-konianke community, Forest Region, Republic of Guinea

In memory of Kanséréba Keita, who left us too early. In Republic of Guinea, over the last decades, traditional and mystical tradition of Western African Islam (Sufism) has been progressively…

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