Lives of Devotion

Book excerpt: This collection of photographs, by one of Spain’s leading photographers, is a cross-cultural and interfaith exploration of what it means to devote yourself to the pursuit of faith. Throughout the world, and in almost every religion, there are people who withdraw from the world in order to explore their faith and spirituality. These photographs offer a series of portraits and scenes of monastic life in countries as diverse as Spain, Armenia, Eritrea, and Nepal. This life is based on spiritual values whose metaphysical element transcends time and space. Lives of Devotion demonstrates the amazing similarities that lie across the spectrum of faith—whether Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Hindu or Buddhist. The monasteries featured include: Mount Athos, Greece; Koya San, Japan; La Oliva, Spain; Kumbh, India; Mont Saint Michel, France; Kopan, Nepal; Sera, Tibet; Saidnaya, Syria; Geghard, Armenia; Decani, Kosovo; and Pechory, Russia.