Beautiful people: The monastic life

Photographer Fernando Moleres offers a peek into the intimate moments that accord some communities a union with the divine

Curated By: Madhu Kapparath

Published: Mar 1, 2016

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Palestine Greek Orthodox monks at the Church of the Nativity in 2005. Christians monks from different communities are involved in looking after the church in Bethelhem where Jesus is said to have been born

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Armenia Celebration of Easter Saturday mass at Holy Echmiadzin, the Vatican of the Armenian Church

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Tibet Monks at Sera, one of the largest monasteries of Gelugpa, near Lhasa, gather at the main assembly hall to pray and take part in a communal meal

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Japan Monks practise archery in the gardens of Engaku-Ji, a Zen monastery in Kamakura. This ritual helps the monks build concentration and discipline, qualities that are symbolic of the order that flowered under the patronage of the Samurais

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Myanmar Pre-novices eat in silence at Maha Ganayon monastery, a centre renowned for monastic study and discipline

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Serbia An orthodox monk prays during morning mass at Crna Reka monastery

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Italy Once a year, the Carthusians of Serra San Bruno make a daylong excursion outside the monastery

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Syria A Greek Orthodox monk from St George’s monastery points at the convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya, which was built for Byzantine Emperor Justinian I when he was fighting against Persians. Today, this village is a shelter for many Christians from Iraq

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Russia Monks of a monastery in Pechory transport the icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God (1521) during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary