• Russians brave cold, snow to see holy belt of Mother of God in Moscow

    Maxim Shipenkov / EPA

    Russian Orthodox Church believers stand in a line to enter the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to see a casket containing the holy belt of the Mother of God, brought to Russia from Vatopedi monastery situated on Athos Mountain in Greece, after a church service in Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 19. Greek monks brought the belt said to be the one of the Virgin Mary to Russia nearly a month earlier and finish their tour of Russia in Moscow.

    By Katie Cannon, Senior Multimedia Editor

    According to a number of religious texts, Thomas the Apostle, or Doubting Thomas since he did not believe in the ascension of Christ until he touched Christ's wounds, also doubted the Virgin Mary's Assumption. It is said that she tossed her girdle, or what is now called a belt, that she had made from camel hair herself, to Thomas from above in order to make him believe that she had been lifted to heaven. 

    Today there are two parties that claim to possess the belt in its entirety: the Cathedral of Prato in Italy and the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos in Greece. Despite the claims of both the cathedral and monastery, thousands of people come out to see both pieces when they are made available for viewings. In Italy, the belt can be seen five times per year: Easter, May 1, Aug. 15, Sept. 8 and Dec. 24. On Mt. Athos, viewings are limited only to men, so the current showing in Russia is quite special.

    The shrine is said to have powers to cure barrenness and to promote good health. 

    Sergei Chirikov / EPA

    Russian Orthodox Church priests and bishops stand in line to kiss a casket containing the holy belt of the Mother of God, in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 19.

    Sergei Chirikov / EPA

    Russian faithful kiss a casket containing the holy belt of the Mother of God, Nov. 19, in Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.

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    146 comments

    More religious nonsense.

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  • Abir Sultan / EPA

    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they take part in a procession to bring the icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, through Jerusalem's Old City, Israel, on August 25. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption.

    Candlelight procession through Jerusalem's Old City

  • Baz Ratner / Reuters

    Orthodox nuns and worshippers hold candles as they walk along the Via Dolorosa during a procession in Jerusalem's Old City early morning August 25, 2010. More than a thousand worshippers took part in the annual procession in which an icon of the Virgin Mary is carried from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City to a church at the foot of the Mount of Olives believed by Christians to mark the tomb of the Virgin Mary.

    Yossi Zamir / EPA

    Greek Orthodox Christians walk through Jerusalem's Old City at dawn during a candlelight procession commemorating the death of Jesus' mother, Mary, in Jerusalem, August 25, 2010.

    Sebastian Scheiner / AP

    Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they take part in a procession to bring the icon of the Virgin Mary to the tomb where it is believed she is buried, through Jerusalem's Old City on Aug. 25, 2010. Every year before the Feast of the Assumption, the icon is brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to the tomb of the Virgin Mary to honor her Assumption.

    Gali Tibbon / AFP - Getty Images

    Christian Orthodox nuns hold candles and flowers as they walk along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City during a procession marking The Dormition of the Theotokos (God-bearer) which commemorates the Virgin Mary on August 25, 2010.

    Procession in Jerusalem

    Pretty pictures coming out of this religious procession in Jerusalem today. Looks like there were photograhers there from all the major wire services. Which one do you like best?