"hermit saint"

#13091583

13 December 2025

CZESTOCHOWA, POLAND – DECEMBER 12: Close-up of a decoration of the rampart gate with the inscription: 'Wladysław, Prince of Opole , tenant of the brothers of the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit in the Jasna Gora church', in Czestochowa, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, on December 12, 2025.

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#13091638

13 December 2025

CZESTOCHOWA, POLAND – DECEMBER 12: Close-up of a decoration of the rampart gate with the inscription: 'Wladysław, Prince of Opole , tenant of the brothers of the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit in the Jasna Gora church', in Czestochowa, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, on December 12, 2025.

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#11953854

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953855

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953856

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953857

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953858

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953859

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953860

17 January 2025

The friar blesses pets in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions in the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has peasant origins, but economic and social changes have altered customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953861

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11953862

17 January 2025

People with their dogs wait for the blessing in front of the Capuchin Church in Molfetta, Italy, on January 17, 2025. Now in its 24th year, the blessing of animals is among the most established traditions of the city of Molfetta. Traditionally, citizens gather at the Church of the Most Holy Crucifix (Church of the Capuchins), bringing with them domestic, barnyard, and stable animals (lambs, calves, horses, and farm animals) to participate in the festive ceremony in honor of the hermit saint. The rite has essentially peasant origins, but economic and social changes alter customs, so today mostly pet animals are led for the blessing.

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#11051577

6 March 2024

A Naga Baba, or Naked holy saint, is smearing ashes over his body on the embankments of the Bagmati River next to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 6, 2024. Hundreds of Naga Babas, translated as ''Naked Saints,'' are arriving at Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to attend Maha Shivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva.

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#10921234

18 January 2024

A priest is blessing pets outside a parish church in Culhuacan, Mexico City, on the occasion of St. Anthony Abbot's Day, the patron saint of animals. According to accounts, St. Anthony Abbot was born in Heracleopolis Magna in Egypt in 251 A.D. He was a monk and founder of the hermit movement who helped others to get their spiritual lives back on track in the desert.

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#10921237

18 January 2024

A priest is blessing pets outside a parish church in Culhuacan, Mexico City, on the occasion of St. Anthony Abbot's Day, the patron saint of animals. According to accounts, St. Anthony Abbot was born in Heracleopolis Magna in Egypt in 251 A.D. He was a monk and founder of the hermit movement who helped others to get their spiritual lives back on track in the desert.

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#10921238

18 January 2024

A priest is blessing pets outside a parish church in Culhuacan, Mexico City, on the occasion of St. Anthony Abbot's Day, the patron saint of animals. According to accounts, St. Anthony Abbot was born in Heracleopolis Magna in Egypt in 251 A.D. He was a monk and founder of the hermit movement who helped others to get their spiritual lives back on track in the desert.

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#10921239

18 January 2024

A priest is blessing pets outside a parish church in Culhuacan, Mexico City, on the occasion of St. Anthony Abbot's Day, the patron saint of animals. According to accounts, St. Anthony Abbot was born in Heracleopolis Magna in Egypt in 251 A.D. He was a monk and founder of the hermit movement who helped others to get their spiritual lives back on track in the desert.

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