Deprecare Deum pacis, ut conterat satanam sub pedi

Our Lady, Queen of the May

Sepp Walter, Der steirische Mandlkalender. Seine Zeichen und Bilder (Graz: Leykam-Alpina, 1992)

The Catacomb Saints

Mighty and most merciful God, look upon your lost sheep with pity. Soften their hearts, strengthen their minds, and remove the veil of prejudice from their eyes so they might see all of humankind as Your beloved children. Spare the oppressed from the pain of their words and the violence of their hands, and forgive them their sins so they might finally know community and peace in You. Amen

In 1960s man named Artur Szyjer, a resident of 6 Podskarbinska street, hung the first image of Mary on the tree. Someone else attached a rosary. To this day, the tree is covered in holy images, rosaries and flowers.

Monks of Mt Athos having fun in the snow.

Hill of crosses, Lithuania.

donskoy monastery, moscow

Orthodox Easter, by Viktor Petrovich Kudrin c. 1960