Best of Christianity

Stained Glass Depiction of Jesus (NJ)

A stained glass depiction of Jesus, whose hands are raised and making the sign of the cross.

Young Man Raising His Hands in Prayer

A young man raises his hands in prayer. Prayer in the Pentecostal tradition, with arms raised heavenward, is said to have been the practice in the early church. (Photo Credit: Jean-Claude LeJeune, courtesy of World Council of Churches)

Beyond the Veil II (Chicago, IL)

A nun of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth is photographed holding a cross as part of the "Beyond the Veil" photography project in Chicago, Illinois that seeks to highlight common experiences of women by documenting the private lives of nuns. (Photo by and project by: Iwona Biedermann) pluralism.org

Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs (Biloxi, MS)

Church members stop at one of the 14 Stations of the Cross to pray. Some members of the congregation push a wooden statue of Jesus carrying a cross from station to station. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Worship at Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX)

A congregation gathers for worship in the huge sanctuary of Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. (Photo Credit: Steve Chenn, courtesy of Second Baptist Church) pluralism.org

Lighting Votive Candles at Most Holy Redeemer Church (Detroit, MI)

A woman lights a votive candle in the chapel at Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan, 2006. pluralism.org

Roy Community Church (Roy, WA)

The church building of Roy Community Church, an interdenominational and evangelical church in Roy, Washington. (Photo by: Scott Allan Stevens)

Solemn Light at Saint Patrick's Cathedral (New York City, NY)

Statues of saints line the walls at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City as candles lit in memory of the deceased illuminate the chancel, 2009. (Photo Credit: Kaaren LeBeck) pluralism.org

Distribution of Blessed Bread at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Troy, MI)

A Coptic Orthodox priest at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Troy, Michigan distributes blessed bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy to people who did not receive Holy Communion. pluralism.org

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Troy, MI)

Distribution of Blessed Bread at the End of the Divine Liturgy to People Who Did Not Receive Holy Communion (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Lima Catholic Church (Bay St. Louis, MS)

Members of St. Rose De Lima Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, leave the building after an evening mass at the church. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

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Roy Community Church in Roy, Washington State

Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ (Hattiesburg, MS)

Senior Pastor Micah Scott lays on hands during the healing portion of a Sunday morning serivce at the Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Healing During a Service at Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ (Hattiesburg, MS)

Senior Pastor Micah Scott lays on hands during the healing portion of a Sunday morning serivce at the Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ (Hattiesburg, MS)

Pastor Micah Scott preaches a special sermon for the young folks at the Sunday morning service of the Tabernacle of Prayer in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Preaching at Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ (Hattiesburg, MS)

Pastor Micah Scott preaches a special sermon for the young folks at the Sunday morning service of the Tabernacle of Prayer Church of God in Christ in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

The Saints of Boston: Icons of Eastern Christian Churches in Greater Boston

The collage above forms a collective iconostasis, or icon screen, from pictures of Eastern Christian churches throughout Greater Boston.

Coptic Baptism Ritual (Chicago, IL)

Coptic believers in Illinois take place in an annual baptism ritual.

Coptic Christians Immerse in Lake Michigan

The series is documentary about the ritual of baptism, which takes place every year among the Coptic believers of Illinois. Photo Credit: Iwona Biedermann

“Coptic in Chicago,” Iwona Biedermann (Chicago, IL)

Set against the Chicago skyline, Coptic Christians participate in an annual ritual of baptism in the waters of Lake Michigan. (Photo by: Iwona Biedermann)

The Veneration of an Icon

After a vespers service, guests line up to venerate an icon. Over 200 guests of various religious backgrounds attended this open house, including the Cathedral’s neighbors the Little Brothers of St. Francis, seen in the right foreground.

Father Arida and Bishop Nikon (Boston, MA)

Father Robert Arida (left) has been priest and Dean of Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Boston since 1984. Bishop Nikon (right) was installed as the Bishop of Boston and New England within the Orthodox Church of America in 2003.

Acolytes of St. Sava (Cambridge, MA)

Four acolytes, or altar servers, at St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts hold lanterns and fans in the space in front of the altar, symbolizing the angelic rays that surround the sacraments and scripture. The fan on the far left depicts the seraphim.