Nuns Cross Farm, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Ordination of nuns of the Sisters of the Rosary, Beit Jala, Palestine National Authority, Middle East

Kindergarten run by Catholic nuns, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Nuns at lunch, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Nuns sorting wheat in Bet Maryam church courtyard, Lalibela, Wollo, Ethiopia, Africa

Young novice nuns having their breakfast in the streets of Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Nuns celebrating Mass in Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox church on Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Catholic mass in Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Franciscan sister holding an orphan at nursery and kindergarten run by Catholic nuns, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic nun, Provins, Seine-et-Marne, France, Europe

The colonnades and nun in St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

A procession of Buddhist nuns file through the temples of Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Nun with novice monks holding alms bowls at Mingun Paya, Mingun, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Shoes of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation founded by Mother Teresa, and Sanpietrini pavingstones, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Poultry breeding at Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Meal time at a nursery and kindergarten run by Catholic nuns, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Nuns at lunch, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Catholic nun, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Detail of Begijnhof (Beguine House), Bruges, Belgium, Europe

Ordination of nuns of the Sisters of the Rosary, Beit Jala, Palestine National Authority, Middle East

Ordained nuns' new clothing, Beit Jala, Palestine National Authority, Middle East

Mass in Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Nun in Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox church on Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Sisters of Charity at World Youth Day in 2008, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Roman Catholic nun making candles, Urt, Pyrenees Atlantique, France, Europe

Franciscan sister holding an orphan at nursery and kindergarten run by Catholic nuns, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Mass in Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic nun using internet, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Sainte Scholastique, Benedictine nuns, Kergonan, Morbihan, Brittany, France, Europe

Religious rites, Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Nuns in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old Walled City, Jerusalem, Israel

Woman on pilgrimage, Ganden Monastery, Tibet, China, Asia

Catholic nuns, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Prayer at Taize meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, Europe

Benedictine nun making religious vestment, Urt, Pyrenees Atlantique, France, Europe

Ordination of nuns of the Sisters of the Rosary, Beit Jala, Palestine National Authority, Middle East

Holy Sacrament adoration at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Meal time at a nursery and kindergarten run by Catholic nuns, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Nun pouring water, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

A procession of Buddhist nuns make their way through the temples of Angkor, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

African nun, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Nun in Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox church on Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Nuns Cross Farm under stars, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A Polish nun going to the Beatification of Pope John Paul II, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Funeral procession coming through one of the main gates to Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Krakow (Cracow), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poland, Europe

Catholic nun, Fadiouth, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Reuilly Protestant nun, Versailles, Yvelines, France, Europe

Young female monks waiting to receive rice from donors, Pyay, Myanmar, Asia

Nuns praying at the Misericordia church, Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil, South America

Funeral procession coming through one of the main gates to Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Krakow (Cracow), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poland, Europe

Nun in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

African nuns, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Nun sewing, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Nun in Dzogbegan Benedictine Abbey, Danyi Dzogbegan, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Seamstress at Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic nun teaching in a secondary school, Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Praying nuns, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, AFrica

Nun at mass, Popenguine, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Holy Sacrament adoration at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

St. Clare nuns at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic mass in Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic nuns, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Nun's rosary, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Prayer at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Nun's cross and ring, Danyi Dzogbegan, Togo, West Africa, AFrica

Nun lighting a candle at the Lourdes shrine, Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees, France, Europe

Mass in Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Mass in Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Catholic mass in Lome, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Mass in Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Cards made at Akepe Catholic Monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

St. Clare nuns at Akepe monastery, Akepe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Sang sang rimpoche uses the dorje, a sacred ritual object to make the first decisive cut into the sand mandala on the last day of the mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal. solu khumbu, nepal

Buddhist nuns collecting morning alms, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Thupten choeling nuns prepare butter-salt tea at nunnery-kitchen. solu khumbu, nepal

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

Nuns give out bread at Romanov Chapel of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine, Europe

India. Nuns and girls at prayer. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

India. Dancing girls. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

India. Study and reading time, helped by sister bincy joseph.Mary Matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

India. Nuns and girls at prayer. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

India. Study and reading time, helped by sister jane thennattil (director).Mary Matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

India - health: saint josephs hospice for cancer patients, kottayam, kerala

India. Sister bincy joseph aruviyil serving, during mealtime at the mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

Italy the funeral of pope john paul ii at the vatican in rome, 8th april 2005. Catholic nuns paying their respects

Religion, ethiopia. Monk and nun staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

India - religion - christian elderly cmc catholic sister at koonamavu convent, kerala

Myanmar nuns attending catholic wedding of tribal kachins at myitkyina, a largely kachin community in north burma near chinese border

India - health st. Josephs hospice for cancer patients kottayam, kerala

India. Study and reading time. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

India. Study and reading time. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

Buddhist nuns in front of tergar monastery in maha bodhi temple. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Myanmar attending catholic wedding of tribal kachins at myitkyina, a largely kachin community in north burma near chinese border

Myanmar attending catholic wedding of tribal kachins at myitkyina, a largely kachin community in north burma near chinese border

India. Study and reading time. Mary matha bala bhavan, a girls orphanage run by syro-malabar catholic missionary sisters of mary immaculate (msmi), chamal village, thamarassery diocese, khozikode, kerala. 2007

Italy the funeral of pope john paul ii at the vatican in rome, 8th april 2005. Catholic nuns paying their respects

Russia - soup kitchen run by mother teresas sisters of charity for the poor and elderly, yuzhno sakhalinsk, sakhalin island, russian far east