View allAll Photos Tagged Testimony
Won local testimony 2020 religious series category. www.edutmekomit.co.il
la Natura che si fa Poesia...
Magica Terra, sei il simbolo della perfezione, sei il mio canto della Vita, sei il mio buongiorno di ogni di, non ho contato i miei passi sul tuo suolo poiché infinite sono le tue bellezze.
Mia terra, amare è assai poco, tu sei beneficiare di tutte le creature, tu sei una madre eccellente.
ci sono giorni che la senti dentro la Natura...
Le Montagne vivono solo dell' amore dell' uomo.
Dove le abitazioni, poi gli Alberi, poi l erba sono esaurite, nasce il regno sterile, selvaggio, minerale.
Tuttavia, nella sua estrema povertà, nella sua nudità, dispensa una ricchezza che non ha prezzo: la felicità che si scopre negli occhi di chi la frequenta.
Testi e Immagini di Troise Carmine - Washi - si prega di non copiare (qualcuno l ha già fatto più volte che squallido) e di non riprodurre salvo esplicita autorizzazione del sottoscritto!
in vendita - on sale - à vendre - zum
Verkauf
Dietro ogni scatto ci sono sempre fatiche e attese!
Zaino carico e pesante (quasi sempre) e, quando trasporti la Fotocamera con obiettivo, la Sera avverti un dolore al collo...
Ma le Passioni, è noto, comportano sempre sacrifici!
In Natura non esistono malintesi esistono solo in ciò che l'uomo chiama ragione!
ProteggiAMO tutto questo!
PreoccupiAMOci della Natura il nostro futuro dipende da essa!
Osservare tutto questo è un dono, innAMÒRarsene una ricchezza!
Follow me:
su JuzaPhoto
www.juzaphoto.com/me.php?p=5040&pg=allphotos&srt=...
________________________________________________
Prendetevi del tempo per Sognare, ogni scatto racconta una lunga storia...
Washi
________________________________________________
Meravigliosa Natura!
Privilèges de Montagne...
InnAMÒRati della NATURA anche tu!
Il mio tempo in Montagna!
La Vallée d'Aoste à ma guise - La Valle d'Aosta a modo mio - Aosta Valley in my own way
Vivre en Montagne, au quotidien, pour satisfaire la Curiosité de la Photographie de la Nature...
Valle d'Aosta - Vallée d'Aoste
(Une Montagne d'émotions...)
Clickalps Photography - Troise Carmine - Washi
I miei Video amatoriali su:
www.youtube.com/user/Washi59/videos
www.linkedin.com/in/troisecarminewashi?trk=nav_responsive...
e
Fotocamera:
Canon EOS R5
Obiettivi:
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM II
Accessori:
Treppiede Manfrotto 190 X Prob
Testa Manfrotto a sfera compact nera con attacco rapido 496RC2 con frizione
Piastra a sgancio rapido 200PL
Telecomando infrarossi Canon RC-6
Telecomando Rollei Schermo LCD e Retroilluminazione
Zaino serie Mountain 50 lt - F Stop Tilopa v3 Aloe (Verde drab) - peso 1,9 Kg
Dimensioni LxAxP - 35,6 x 59,7 x 30,5 cm
INaturalist:
The Overcomers' Testimonies | Christian Movie | "Sweetness in Adversity"
Introduction
Christian Han Lu was monitored and tracked by the CCP police officers, which led to her capture. The police officers have brutally tortured her, and they have also used rumors to try to brainwash her, used her family to try and coerce her, and other despicable methods to try to threaten her in an attempt to compel her to deny God and betray God. However, under the guidance of the word of God, Han Lu has made it through many interrogations under torture and has powerfully refuted the various rumors and fallacies of the CCP with truth. Within the bitter environment of the CCP's persecution, a beautiful and resounding testimony has been made …
Sucevița Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox convent situated in the Northeastern part of Romania. It is situated near the Suceviţa River, in the village Sucevița, 18 km away from the city of Rădăuţi, Suceava County. It is located in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina (northwestern Moldavia). It was built in 1585 by Ieremia Movilă, Gheorghe Movilă and Simion Movilă.The architecture of the church contains both Byzantine and Gothic elements, and some elements typical to other painted churches of northern Moldavia. Both interior and exterior walls are covered by mural paintings, which are of great artistic value and depict biblical episodes from the Old and New Testament. The paintings date from around 1601, which makes Sucevița one of the last monasteries to be decorated in the famous Moldavian style of exterior paintings. The interior court of the monastic ensemble is almost square (100 by 104 meters) and is surrounded by high (6 m), wide (3 m) walls. There are several other defensive structures within the ensemble, including four towers (one in each corner). Sucevița was a princely residence as well as a fortified monastery. The thick walls today shelter a museum that presents an outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The tomb covers of Ieremia and Simion Movilă – rich portraits embroidered in silver thread – together with ecclesiastical silverware, books and illuminated manuscripts, offer eloquent testimony to Sucevița's importance first as a manuscript workshop, then as a printing center.
In 2010, the monastery has been inscribed by UNESCO on its list of World Heritage Sites, as one of the Painted churches of Moldavia.
1 Timothy 1 ~~ Paul writes..
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
Gospel Movie Clip | From the Throne Flows the Water of Life (9) - Testimonies
From Experiencing God's Judgment in the Last Days
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/movie-water-of-life-9/
Introduction
In the last days, Almighty God expresses the truth in China and carries out the work of judgment beginning with the house of God. He conquered and saved a group of people, and they are the ones who have obtained the way of eternal life. Do you want to know how they've undergone God's judgment and chastisement? Do you want to know what changes they've gone through by undergoing God's judgment and chastisement? You can hear from them if you watch this short video.
Image Source: The Church of Almighty God
Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
It's quite interesting the testimony of this reportage photo. Taken during the "Fiesta Nacional de España - 12 October), in Barcelona. In a country where a lot of people want to be indipendent from Spain there are also who dosen't be of the same opinion.
Please don't consider my photo on a political way. It was taken just for reportage, not for manifest a personal political opinion.
What do you think about this photo? If you want, please, leave a comment :) Ciao e buona luce!!!
an important testimony of workers' village, which operated in the textile sector, was built around 1875, inscribed on the World Heritage List-Unesco
Gospel Movie Clip | "Break Through the Snare" (7) - How God Saves Man From the Influence of Satan
Introduction
The Bible says, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17). In the last days, Almighty God
expresses all the truth which purifies and saves man and He shows to us His righteous, majestic and inviolable disposition. God's work of judgment in the last days is done to save man so they can break away from the influence of Satan and truly turn back to God. All God's chosen people who accept Almighty God's work of judgment all gradually come to see clearly the factual truth that the pastors and elders' service of God actually defies God, see clearly their hypocritical and truth-hating antichrist natures and therefore they break away from the confusion and control of the pastors and elders and truly return before God. By listening to God's chosen people's Testimonies
of their experiences of judgment before the seat of Christ, you will be brought to an understanding of God's work of judgment in the last days.
Recommend to you: Christian Family Movie
Image Source: The Church of Almighty God
Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
por Warhol -
Keith Haring (Reading, 4 de maio de 1958 – Nova Iorque, 16 de fevereiro de 1990) foi um artista gráfico e activista estadunidense. Seu trabalho reflecte a cultura nova-iorquina dos anos 1980.
Nascido no estado de Pensilvânia, cedo mostrou interesse pelas artes plásticas. De 1976 até 1978 estudou design gráfico numa escola de arte em Pittsburgh. Antes de acabar o curso, transfere-se para Nova Iorque, onde seria grandemente influenciado pelos graffitis, inscrevendo-se na School of Visual Arts. Homossexual assumido, o seu trabalho reflecte também um conjunto de temas homo-eróticos.
Keith Haring começou a ganhar notoriedade ao desenhar a giz nas estações de metro de Nova Iorque. As suas primeiras exposições formam,michelleis acontele era gayecem a partir de 1980 no Club 57, que se torna um ponto de encontro da elite vanguardista.
Na mesma década, participou em diversas bienais e pintou diversos murais pelo mundo - de Sydney a Amsterdão e mesmo no Muro de Berlim. Amigo pessoal de Grace Jones, foi ele quem lhe pintou o corpo para o videoclip "I'm Not Perfect".
Em 1988, abre um Pop Shop em Tóquio. Na ocasião, afirma:
"Em minha vida fiz muitas coisa, ganhei muito dinheiro e me diverti muito. Mas também vivi em Nova Iorque nos anos do ápice da promiscuidade sexual. Se eu não pegar AIDS, ninguém mais pegará."
Meses depois declara em entrevista à revista Rolling Stone que tem o vírus HIV. Em seguida, cria a Keith Haring Foundation, em favor das crianças vítimas da AIDS.
Em 1989, perto da igreja de Sant'Antonio Abate, em Pisa, Itália, executa a sua última obra pública - o grande mural intitulado Tuttomondo[1], dedicado à paz universal.
Haring morreu aos 31 anos de idade, vítima de complicações de saúde relacionadas a AIDS, tendo sido um forte activista contra a doença, que abordou mais que uma vez em suas pinturas.
...
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
David Galloway
As curator of the Keith Haring retrospective mounted by New York's Whitney Museum of American Art in 1997, Elisabeth Sussman composed a thoughtful catalogue text in which she tidily divided the artist's career into three "chapters." In the first of these, Sussmann suggested, Haring synthesized a street and club style into a bold form of overall decoration that often employed elements of kitsch. In the middle phase, lasting from approximately 1984 to 1988, when he developed the first symptoms of AIDS, Haring produced paintings that were essentially Pop versions of Neo-Expressionism. In these years he also used his cartoon-like graphic line to execute murals, many of them for (and even together with) children. "Finally," Sussman observed, "in the last years of his life, major works not only summed up his painting ambitions but were socially active and angry responses to his imminent death."1
There can be no doubt that the artist's battle with AIDS had a profound effect on his artistic vision. "To live with a fatal disease," he confided to his biographer John Gruen shortly before his death, "gives you a whole new perspective on life."2 The resulting pain and anguish are eloquently expressed in Haring's two collaborations with William Burroughs: Apocalypse (1988) and The Valley (1989). Sussmann's categories are nonetheless too neat and too emphatic, concealing both the humor that frequently enlivens the late works and the dark side that shadows even the earliest, cartoon-like compositions. And the artist was a social activist from the beginning of his career. At a demonstration in Central Park in 1982, he distributed 20,000 antinuclear posters. His "Anti-Litterpig" campaign was launched in 1984, the famous Crack is Wack mural painted in 1986. The true "horror of AIDS had come to light"3 for Haring in 1985, and he had for some time regarded himself as a prime AIDS "candidate" - even before discovering the first Karposi sarcoma on his leg during a trip to Japan in 1988. Not only numerous intimate acquaintances, including his ex-lover Juan Dubose, had already succumbed to the disease. Rumors of Haring's own infection were rife long before he himself learned that he was HIV-positive. More than a year before the diagnosis, Newsweek had tracked the artist down in Europe to ask if his protracted stay there was a cover-up for his affliction with AIDS.
Yet for all the traumatic implications of the onset of the disease itself, it is a mistake to overemphasize the event as a kind of watershed, as a moment in which the oeuvre itself underwent some seismic change. Such an oversimplification is tempting but ultimately misleading. And it is not unlike that simplistic approach to the work of Andy Warhol which suggests a fundamental shift in theme and point of view following the assassination attempt by Valerie Solanis. In fact, Warhol's own fascination with "Death and Disaster" was well established before the deranged feminist entered the Factory in 1969 with revolver blazing. 129 Die in Jet, the first of the works associated with violent death, dates to 1962. And it was soon followed by garishly tinted studies of suicides, car crashes, race riots and electric chairs.
Keith Haring, too, had explored a darker side of experience long before the dread diagnosis. The earliest works produced in his characteristic graphic style include serpents and monsters, nuclear radiation and falling angels, cannibals, omnivorous worms, bloody daggers and skeletons. The devil himself makes occasional appearances, as does the multi-headed beast of the Apocalypse. One can make out a sinister form that may well represent a virus, and an androgynous figure which wheels a sword-like crucifix over the heads of children, while scissors and chains are employed in sadomasochistic practices which often end in castration. In a Saint Sebastian, produced in 1984 and one of the few titled works by Haring, the martyr's body is pierced not by arrows but by airplanes - one of the numerous examples of the artist's critical view of technology, but also testimony to his deeply felt pacifism.
The figure of a hanged man, perhaps influenced by William Burroughs' Naked Lunch, makes it debut in 1981. So, too, do human figures writhing in the clutch of a nest of serpents. In 1982 a serpent pierces (and thereby joins like so many beads on a string) a row of human figures with holes in their abdomens. Indeed, human figures with holes gouged in their middles are a recurrent pictogram - one inspired, according to the artist himself, by the assassination of John Lennon in December of 1980. Yet even before that event, Haring was sounding the themes of violence and death in the cut-up headlines he posted around New York City, inspired both by his friend Jenny Holzer and by William Burroughs. In typical tabloid fashion, the headlines trumpeted such sensationalist assertions as "POPE KILLED FOR FREED HOSTAGE." "RONALD REAGAN ACCUSED OF TV STAR SEX DEATH; KillED AND ATE lOVER." and "REAGAN'S DEATH COPS HUNT POPE."
When Keith Haring undertook his first cross-country trip in 1977 with his girlfriend Susan, he financed the journey by silkscreening T-shirts and selling them along the way. One model showed Richard Nixon sniffing a kilo of marijuana; the other featured the logo of the Grateful Dead: a skull - the penultimate memento mori that also fascinated Warhol - split by a lightning bolt. One of Haring's early subway drawings includes a skeleton wearing wire-rimmed glasses as an encoded self-portrait. In a diary entry for March 18, 1982, the artist reflected on the significance of "Being born in1958, the first generation of the Space Age, born into a world of television technology and instant gratification, a child of the atomic age. Raised in American during the sixties and learning about war from Life magazines on Viet Nam. Watching riots on television..."4 Like the Beat poets he admired, the young artist was intensely aware of the dangers of nuclear war and the precedent his country had set in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was equally aware of the dangers inherent in "peacetime" uses of nuclear energy. The notorious near-meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979 occurred a short distance from the Haring home in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Spaceships projecting rays onto earthlings often hover over his works, and his famous "radiant" baby may suggest radioactive contamination as well as spiritual glow.
In short, the first "chapter" in Haring's career was neither so innocent nor so giddily affirmative as it is sometimes made out to be. His media-savvy generation, exposed at an early age to "sex, drugs and rock-'n'-roll," was quickly disabused of childhood's illusions. At the age of 19, he confided to his diary, "Through all the shit shines the small ray of hope that lives in the common sense of the few. The music, dance, theater, and the visual arts: the forms of expression, the arts of hope. This is where I think I fit in."5 Even amid the "shit," there was an element of hope, and the coexistence of these two entities defines the Haring universe. What one witnesses is literally The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, to cite the title of a Roland Petit choreography for the Ballet National de Marseilles, for which Haring created a huge front curtain in 1985. Whether Haring was familiar with William Blake's ironic poem of the same title is uncertain, though the English poet was a favorite of the psychedelic set to which Haring belonged for a time. Furthermore, there are occasional parallels between Haring's graphic style and the illustrations Blake prepared for his own works. The implications of a linked pair of Blake titles - Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience - have clear relevance for Haring's oeuvre, as well.
The key to Haring's work is not to be found in "chapters" or in oppositions, but precisely in the mingling, the marriage of innocence and experience, good and evil, heaven and hell. This inherent but essential ambiguity is reinforced by an image he created in June of 1989, less than a year before his death. (He was in Paris at the time, executing a monumental painting intended to decorate a dirigible to be flown over the city in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.) The starting point was a photograph of the artist sitting on a chair from the Vitra Collection, part of a series of celebrity portraits made for the German furniture company. With a felt pen, Haring fitted himself out with wings, floated a halo over his head, bound his feet with shackles and coiled a rope-like or snakelike form around his torso. (In fact, in other works the rope which binds a victim often turns into a snake in the hands of his tormentor). Haring remarked on his own creation: "Whoever understands this photograph understands what my work is all about."6 The essential theme sounded here - man bound into a "mortal coil," anchored to the earth, while his spirit strives to soar into the heavens - is as old as religion itself)
In his journal Haring described the events of June 16th as follows: Friday I had a "press lunch" with the airship people (boring and trivial). Then went to Futura's exhibit and bought a nice new painting. Met David Galloway there. He came to Paris to interview me for the book Hans Mayer is doing on my sculptures. Went with David to see the airship painting again and do photos. We talked a lot and by the same time we got to the hotel the conversation got deeper and continually off the "subject."
Did some photos for a German spaghetti book. (Portrait of me with a drawing made out of spaghetti we ordered from room service.) I talked with David till it was time for dinner at Marcel Fleiss's house with Yoko and Sam. Nice quiet dinner and then returned to hotel with David to talk till 1 :30.7
The "deeper" talk that quickly veered from the topic of sculpture and continued into the early hours of the morning ultimately found its focus in the fat roll of galley proofs resting on the mantelpiece of Haring's suite at the Ritz Hotel. This was the interview by David Scheff that would appear in Rolling Stone on August 10th, and in which Haring talked with painful frankness about his own illness. As a politically engaged artist who helped to organize the first" Art Against AIDS" exhibition and produced several AIDS-related posters, including more than one with the motto "Silence = Death," he felt morally obliged to speak out about his illness. (Later in the year, he would march in protest against New York City's "racist" policy with respect to the disease, which allegedly only afflicted perverts, junkies and Afro-Americans.) Nonetheless, when the time came to approve Sheff's uncompromising interview, the activist experienced a moment of hesitation. Quite simply, he feared he might not be permitted to work with children again, and this was one of his most cherished activities. Despite such misgivings, on June 17 he sent his approval of the text to the editors of Rolling Stone, and when it appeared the artist experienced an immense, deeply gratifying wave of sympathy. The sole sour note was a protest against his having been commissioned (by Princess Caroline) to execute a mural for the maternity ward of the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco - allegedly a potential danger for future generations.
In transforming a photographic portrait into a self-portrait with a few brisk strokes, Haring made an emphatic statement about his artistic intentions. At the same time, he revealed the depth of his own religious sentiment. Though not a practicing Christian in the last years of his life, the artist had a profound sense of right and wrong, of good and evil, and he devoted a considerable part of his energy to social causes. Attending Sunday School and church had been a regular part of the Harings' family life, and in summer Keith attended the camp run by the United Church of Christ. As a teenager he joined the Jesus Saves movement, read the Bible voraciously and developed "an obsession with the concept of the Second Coming..."8 Above all, Haring was influenced by "Revelation," which later offered him a veritable storehouse of trenchant visual imagery. Even at the age of 12, according to Haring's mother, "he began making drawings in which there were Jesus symbols and other types of symbols, like a loop with two dots."9 Haring's phase as a "Jesus Freak" was short-lived, and the impact of religion (above all, of organized religion) on his work can be overestimated. Indeed, the artist once complained to his journal that "Most religions are so hopelessly outdated, and suited to fit the particular problems of earlier times, that they have no power to provide liberation and freedom, and no power to give 'meaning' beyond an empty metaphor or moral code."10
When he finally decided, while dancing at New York's Paradise Garage, to depict the Ten Commandments within the arches of Bordeaux's Musee d'Art Contemporain for his show there in 1985, Haring was at a loss to remember all the commandments: "So the minute I get to Bordeaux, I ask for a bible!"11 Yet for all the vagueness surrounding Haring's grasp of biblical fundamentals and his distrust of the church as a moral authority, Christian mythology clearly had a profound impact on his use of angels and devils and madonnas, bleeding hearts and crucifixions and transubstantiations. (Painting an angel along with a mother and child on the coffin of his friend Yves Arman, who died in a car crash, transcended mere decoration to become a ritual act of healing.) Haring's fundamental religiosity, on the other hand, was also influenced by his interest in so-called "primitive" cultures, their myths and rituals and totemic objects - interests that inform the artist's pseudo-African masks, for example. And the Michael Rockefeller Collection of Primitive Art at New York's Metropolitan Museum was one of his favorite haunts.
Haring's use of traditional Christian imagery is particularly explicit in Apocalypse (1988), his first collaboration with William Burroughs. Each composition is a reprise on a collaged image taken from advertising, art history or Catholic theology. In addition to a Christ with a bleeding heart, the series includes an advertisement from the 1950s (significantly, the period of Haring's own infancy) in which a mother tenderly - and, by implication, Madonna-like - leans over her baby to offer him a milk-bottle. The explicitly Catholic allusions continue in Haring's next collaboration with Burroughs - the suite of etchings entitled The Valley. Here the imagery includes the torso of a male figure inserting a knife beneath his ribs to duplicate one of Christ's stigmata. This belated "embrace" of Catholic symbology aligns Haring even more closely with other prominent creative rebels: with Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol and Haring's street-wise friend and sometime-collaborator Madonna. For those three taboo-breaking artists the Catholic religion offered an especially fertile field for rebellion.
There is a kind of poetic logic in the fact that Haring's collaborations with Burroughs mark the end of his career, since it began with the mock New York Post headlines inspired by the cut-up technique Burroughs employed in Naked Lunch. The artist, furthermore, seems to have felt an intuitive sympathy for a surrealistic juxtaposition of images - partly inspired by his own use of hallucinogenic drugs, but also by his acquaintance with the works of Burroughs and the Beat-generation poets. A sentence from Burroughs' Soft Machine, published in 1962, might almost describe a composition by Haring: "Carl walked a long row of living penis urns whose penis has absorbed the body with vestigial arms and legs breathing through purple fungoid gills..."12 Haring had known Burroughs' work long before the two first met in 1983. In 1986, the artist told an interviewer that the author was "very into a lot of the world I've depicted, especially in the recent things - sex, mutations, weird science fiction situations."13 Erotic grotesquerie mixed with Christian symbolism characterized the works of both men. Timothy Leary, self-proclaimed guru of the acid age, remarked of the first Haring-Burroughs collaboration, Apocalypse, that it was "like Dante and Titian getting together."14 Dante and Hieronymous Bosch, whom Haring greatly admired, might seem the more appropriate parallel for works redolent with a sense of doom.
On March 20, 1987, Haring made the following remark in his journal: "I always knew, since I was young, that I would die young. But I thought it would be fast (an accident, not a disease). In fact, a man-made disease like AIDS. Time will tell that I am not scared. I live everyday as if it were the last. I love life."15 That affirmative note is sounded throughout the artist's work, the numerous interviews he gave, the social activities he sponsored, the texts he composed. Yet in the same journal entry which included the vigorous assertion of his love for life, Haring composed the following reaction to the news that the policemen accused of killing Michael Stewart had all been acquitted:
I hope in their next life they are tortured like they tortured him. They should be birds captured early in life, put in cages, purchased by a fat, smelly, ugly lady who keeps them in a small dirty cage up near the ceiling while all day she cooks bloody sausages and the blood spatters their cage and the frying fat burns their matted feathers and they can never escape the horrible fumes of her burnt meat. One day the cage will fall to the ground and a big fat ugly cat will kick them about, play with them like a toy, and slowly kill them and leave their remains to be accidentally stepped on by the big fat pink lady who can't see her own feet because of her huge sagging tits. An eye for an eye... 16
Like a Bosch-Burroughs vision, the passage indicates the rage Haring could experience when confronted with social and political injustice. For an understanding of the artist's oeuvre as a whole, however, it is important to observe that in the journal entry for a single day, remarks of a tender, Christian-like nature - "I'm sure when I die, I won't really die, because I live in many people,"17 - are followed by fulminations of Old Testament rage. Yet this dichotomy in no sense represents a contradiction; far more, it is symptomatic of the complexity of the artist's vision. It is an underlying duality which make the early works more than naive cartoons, the late ones more than angry odes to man's mortality. Fitted out with the wings necessary to ascend into heaven and the shackles drawing him down into the fire and brimstone of hell, Keith Haring demonstrated an astonishingly precocious grasp of the inherent ambiguities of his generation, of his age. He was the loving, lusting, break-dancing, quintessential American boy, but also an untiring, uncompromising social critic, and he was doomed to die young of a disease that decimated his generation. "Nothing lasts forever," as he noted in one of his final journal entries. "And nobody can escape death."18
This blockhouse was built during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and used mainly during the Battle of Jarama (February 1937).
Esta casamata fue construida durante la Guerra Civil Española (1936-1939). Se utilizó sobre todo durante la Batalla del Jarama (febrero de 1937).
Santa Maria Maior Mother Church / Santiago Menor Church dome and cross as seen from the grounds of the Quinta Bela Sao Tiago Hotel
Abbazia di S.Bruzio, Magliano in Toscana - Maremma toscana
www.italianways.com/monastero-di-san-bruzio-ruderi-e-preg...
All rights reserved - copyright © Giancarlo Gabbrielli
A quintessential Parisian tradition, the book and magazine sellers on the banks of the Seine.
An imaginary world of magazines, some over a hundred years old, vintage books and other witnesses to the passing of time.
Une tradition parisienne par excellence, les vendeurs de livres et revues des bords de Seine.
Tout un imaginaire à travers les revues pour certaines centenaires, des livres vintage, et autres témoins du temps qui passe.
Christian Testimony Movie "The Sun Never Sets on Integrity" Only the Honest Can Get Blessing of God
Wang Xinyu and her husband run a clothing shop, and though at first they try to operate their store with integrity and conscience, they don't earn much money, and their lives are very difficult. But when they see their peers who rely on lying and deception to do business buying cars and houses and living lavish lives, they decide they don't want to be left behind. Guided by their peers, they follow the social trend and begin to do business through lying and trickery. A few years later, although they make some money, their consciences are often uneasy and their hearts feel empty. Then, they accept Almighty God's gospel of the last days, read God's words, through which they discover that God likes honest people and despises deceitful people and learn that honest people receive God's blessings. However, they also see the evil and darkness in the world and worry they won't be able to make money by doing business with integrity, and will even risk losing money, so they continue to use lies and tricks to deceive customers, yet know God detests them for it.... After several struggles and failures, they finally choose to be honest people according to the words of God, and are surprised to receive God's blessings. Not only does their business flourish, they also enjoy the peace and security of being honest people.
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty Godwas created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded byAlmighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
Special statement: This video production was produced as a not-for-profit piece by The Church of Almighty God. This video may not be distributed for profit to any third party, and we hope that everyone will share it and distribute it openly. When you distribute it, please note the source. Without the consent of The Church of Almighty God, no organization, social group, or individual may tamper with or misrepresent the contents of this video. Recommended for You：The Church of Almighty God
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/testimonies/God-s-attitude-towar...
…Some brothers and sisters may raise questions, and will say: “We’ve believed in the Lord for many years and have worked very hard for Him. We can’t count how many churches we’ve established, and we’ve even been sent to prison. So even if we do commit sin, God will surely not abandon us!” If this was truly the case, then wouldn’t those Jewish Pharisees who traveled all over the lands and seas to spread the gospel, and yet defied and condemned the Lord Jesus, all have been able to enter into the kingdom of heaven? Why were they still condemned and cursed by the Lord Jesus? Wasn’t the Lord Jesus the loving and merciful God? How was He still able to condemn and curse them? Moreover, these people worked hard for God, so why didn’t the Lord Jesus pardon their sins? Regarding this question, these words of the Lord Jesus come to mind: “Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity” (Mat 7:21-23). And a book of truth also says: “Some people will end up saying, ‘I’ve done so much work for You, and though there may not have been celebrated achievements, still I have been diligent in my efforts. Can’t You just let me into heaven to eat the fruit of life?’ You must know what kind of people I desire; those who are impure are not permitted to enter into the kingdom, those who are impure are not permitted to besmirch the holy ground. Though you may have done much work, and have worked for many years, in the end if you are still deplorably filthy—it is intolerable to the law of Heaven that you wish to enter My kingdom!” (“Success or Failure Depends on the Path That Man Walks” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). Reading these words, I suddenly saw the light. It turns out that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven must indeed be those who cast off sin and are cleansed, who follow God’s way, and who obey God, worship God and love God. Those who spread the gospel and cast out demons in the Lord’s name but who don’t follow God’s way are evil-doers in the eyes of God. …
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
Christian Worship Song "God's Kingdom Has Appeared on Earth"
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/hymn-god-kingdom-has-appe...
Christian Worship Song "God's Kingdom Has Appeared on Earth"
I
Almighty true God, King on the throne,
ruling the whole universe,
facing all nations and all peoples.
The whole world shines with God’s glory.
All things in the universe shall see,
all living things everywhere shall see.
The mountains, lands, rivers and lakes,
oceans and all living beings,
in the light of the true God’s presence,
have opened their curtains, revived,
as though waking to life from a dream,
or like sprouts breaking through soil to light.
Oh, the one true God appears before the world.
Who dares, who dares to resist Him?
Everyone shakes with fear, all feeling convinced,
on their knees, on their knees before Him!
See them beg His forgiveness, pleading endlessly.
Every mouth, every mouth in worship!
II
Continents and oceans, mountains, rivers,
all things praise Him endlessly.
Spring breezes bring fine rain.
Stream currents, like people, mixing grief with joy,
they’re shedding tears of indebtedness,
they’re weeping, full of blame and remorse.
Rivers, lakes, surf, swells, all are singing
and praising God’s holy name.
All old things defiled by Satan,
each and every one will renew.
All things once corrupted will change.
They will enter a new circumstance.
Oh, the one true God appears before the world.
Who dares, who dares to resist Him?
Everyone shakes with fear, all feeling convinced,
on their knees, on their knees before Him!
See them beg His forgiveness, pleading endlessly.
Every mouth, every mouth in worship!
III
Then the trumpet sounds a holy blast.
Lend an ear and listen.
A sweet sound comes out from the throne,
announcing to every nation
that the time has already come,
the final end has come at last.
God’s management plan is finished
and His kingdom has come on earth.
Every kingdom in the world
has become the kingdom of God.
Seven trumpets sound from the throne,
what great wonders will now take place!
God joys to see His people, who hear His voice.
They gather from all nations and lands.
All people keep the true God in their mouths,
praise and jump, praise and jump endlessly!
Witnessing to the world of the one true God,
thundering, thundering like waters.
All will crowd into God’s kingdom!
from Utterances and Testimonies of Christ in the Beginning
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
Christian Testimonies | What’s the Meaning of Life? Find the Answer Through a Comic Book Artist’s Experience
One day while watching the news, I saw that a famous Taiwanese comic book artist had died suddenly at just 51 years old. Hearing the news left me with a mix of emotions. He had been a really prominent person in the world of comics and had created a number of excellent works; many people envied and looked up to him. He had both fortune and fame—I had never thought he’d end up dying just like that! I couldn’t help but sigh: When someone dies, no matter how famous they are, how much status they have, what good is it? Then my own 30 years on the path of creating comics occurred to me …
The events that night in the parking lot changed me forever.
I used to look at things as so much more 'black and white.'
'The police were good' I thought.
And 'our government existed to serve and protect the people.'
There was a certain bliss in living with that ignorance.
One night shattered that and life itself would never be so simple again.
I knew that anyone could go bad.
I'd seen that before.
But the systematic coverup I was witness to...
that whacked my reality big time.
Since then I've made quite a few friends who happen to be cops.
I'd say that in my experience about half of them are an honor to the badge.
The other half...
you'd be shocked that they're nothing but another street gang bunch of thugs...
only they hide behind those badges and blue uniforms.
And they're authorized by the state to carry guns and use deadly force.
I don't think anything's ever offended me so much as seeing that bullshit up close.
It was like some fog was lifted and I saw what went on 'behind the curtain.'
That shit really shook me up.
I'm talking about people who've not only got no problem murdering someone...
but they've got the understanding and the means to get away with it.
There's more than a few people in prison who've been sent there wrongly convicted of crimes these guys have done.
They know how to pull it off.
The only thing that they really fear are the half of the cops who wouldn't tolerate that stuff.
The problem is that in some departments the ratio's pretty skewed.
Like Deadwood.
The whole place is filled with bad apples.
The stories I started to hear were unbelievable.
Witness intimidation.
Planting drugs.
Lying on police reports.
Giving false testimony.
And of course...
firebombing the garbage dumpster in front of my office.
I saw that one with my own eyes.
Or that phone call I got about the Police Commisioner's federal conviction for selling a couple of kilos of the white stuff.
The same guy that owned the bar that installed the illegal poker machines.
The ones that were all gone when the county went to raid his place because Iron Fist supposedly got tipped off and told him he'd better get rid of those things fast.
And I heard Iron Fist was pissed.
Not because his Police Commissioner had an illegal gambling operation going on in his town...
but because he'd kept it a secret from him.
Iron Fist kept secrets.
You didn't keep secrets from him.
There's some dark shadows on the other side of that 'thin blue line' and I'm telling you that I hope you never see them.
They get away with way too much.
They get away with murder.
The corruption is so endemic to the system that I have no faith at all that it can ever be eliminated.
There's a secret code.
If you've ever gotten a ticket and the cop thought you were an asshole all he had to do was to make sure that when he stapled your drivers lisense to the paperwork was that he put the staple through your picture.
The next cop that pulled you over knew right away that some other cop had a problem with you.
Because you had staple holes there on your license.
On your face.
That's the kind of shit that they do.
That's the 'code.'
One thing that they do better than anything though is to stick together.
'Professional courtesy' they call it.
In Chicago givin' another cop a ticket for DUI is an instant career dead end.
The older cops with more experience know how it works.
The young guys get sucked into it in order to prove themselves.
And to survive.
You gotta tow the line if you want backup to help you out in a timely manner when you call for it.
It's almost a rite of passage.
You don't pass the test...
you're gonna get your ass kicked on the streets or worse...
and no one's gonna drive really fast to help you out.
You'll be on your own.
Over the years the cops have developed an 'us or them' mentality.
They become jaded about the way it all works...
they socialize amongst themselves and the women who they call 'holster sniffers.'
They start to hate the legal system...
the judges and the prosecutors...
and then all of the sudden they're one of the 'bad apples.'
You hear about them every once in a while...
either they're busted by the feds or they're turned on by the guys around them because they pissed someone off.
You got no idea how bad it is really.
Not until you start hearin' what's going on 'off the record.'
You'll never sleep as well as you did before you heard the stories.
What makes it all worse is when corrupt politicians start to use the police as a 'personal army.'
That only makes everything dirtier.
The cops know that they're gonna get away with so much more when the guys above them are corrupt too.
That's the way it went in Deadwood.
Iron Fist used the police like they were his own little militia.
If he had a problem with you then you had yourself a problem with the cops.
And keepin' Iron Fist happy took precedence over 'law and order' any day of the week in Deadwood.
You got old Iron Fist pissed off at you that'd be a real quick end to your career in 'law enforcement.'
While Iron Fist ran the place the town was known as a really desirable place to live.
You didn't put a 'for sale' sign in front of your house if you wanted to sell it when he was in charge.
The old man would never tolerate that.
He had a list of people who wanted to live there and him and his cronies would figure out who they were gonna let buy your house.
They didn't want any 'undesirables' moving in.
And by 'undesirables' I mean black people.
Iron Fist thought that 'for sale' signs on people's homes made him look bad.
Dude should have been a cult leader the way he operated.
If you went around 'the system'...
and some people did because they felt that Iron Fist's little policy was cutting their profits on the sale of their homes...
Iron Fist would send the cops out late at night and snatch that 'for sale' sign right out of your front yard.
The guys I talked to said 'Secret Squirrel' was always up for the job.
He was the guy that drove around with the trunk full of machine guns.
The Village was sued in federal court for the practice by real estate agents and the Village lost on First Ammendment grounds...
but they still kept doing it.
Iron Fist reduced the police to commonon thievery.
For a lot of them I think that was the line that they'd first crossed into the corruption that soiled the place.
Kind of like a little 'initiation' into the way things were done in Deadwood.
They wanted to make damn sure no 'undesirables' were ever hired on to the police department too.
They asked applicants to provide a picture of themselves with their applications.
You better not have a dark complection if you wanted to get a job there.
The thing that really made everything so corrupt was that the Chief would always end up with a big old bag of dirt on Iron Fist...
just as much as Iron Fist'd end up with a big old bag of dirt on the Chief.
The relationships never seemed to last too long because Iron Fist knew the game better than any of the clowns he'd make Chief.
He'd take 'em down before they really became a threat.
When Skeevy left there to run another department it wasn't too long before the feds were all over his ass.
It was Skeevy who'd installed the guy that'd become the next Chief...
'Chief Hotdog.'
The one I sent the 'nutcracker' letter to.
Where I told him 'I was gonna squeeze his balls until they popped.'
The letter I had to read in front of the jury with all the good stuff blacked out.
Man I really thought I was gonna be charged with some serious felonies for that action.
Even my lawyer said he was worried about it.
'You don't go around writing that kind of stuff down' he said 'say whatever you want but you don't write letters like that and send them to the Chief of Police signed with your name.'
Fortunately the statute of limitations has run out on that one and I ain't got no problems that way.
I really tortured poor Chief Hotdog...
got inside his head and fucked with him big time.
The way I saw it he deserved it.
I mean... he was the boss... and he coudda done something to make things right for me and my family.
He was given the chance to do the right thing.
They all were.
But when he came out lying to the media about what happened that night and defended the actions of his street thug cops I knew I was goin' after his ass any way I could.
Right after the case against my wife was thrown out Chief Hotdog resigned.
Of course The Kid said it had nothin' to do with the bungling of that case...
and insiders said it was because he didn't do really well at fundraising for The Kid politically...
but I didn't care.
He was just one more corrupt motherfucker that I had in my crosshairs that went down in flames.
Whatever it was it ended his career.
The department went without a Chief for a few months and everyone speculated on who was gonna be named Chief Hotdog's successor.
I was shakin' the place up with allegations about the use of the contaminated well but that was all kinda behind the scenes...
the media or the feds hadn't picked up on it just yet.
When The Kid appointed the new Chief, me and The Mole both let out a collective gasp at the same time.
He appointed a woman who used to run the water department.
Terry Stewbauer.
I couldn't believe it.
It was such an obvious payoff and anyone in the know could see that right away.
It was blatant.
The Kid wasn't just 'ball-less' he seemed to be brainless too.
That was the first time I knew I really had those assholes and I knew I had them good.
They knew the feds were comin' sooner or later because I wasn't letting up and appointing Stewbauer as the new Chief of Police was a sort of premptory strike.
They wanted to keep her quiet and they wanted to keep her loyal...
put her on the 'short leash.'
I think she was scared shitless about what was comin' down the line and thinkin' about makin' a deal herself with the federales.
The Kid appointing her as the new Chief was probably a confidence builder for the woman.
She was working part time as a detective for the department before she was appointed Chief and I'd heard she wasn't a bad cop.
But she knew the truth about the use of the contaminated well and I knew that in appointing her that The Kid was hoping she'd never tell that truth to anyone.
Especially the feds.
I heard that her husband was a convicted drug dealer who was sitting in prison at the time she was appointed as the new Chief too.
She couldn't have been a very good detective if she didn't know that the old man was dealin' drugs out of her house.
Or she was a very corrupt detective.
Take your pick.
She was working as the Chief of Police in Deadwood when she was indicted on something like twenty three felony counts by the US Attorney.
She had to surrender her gun and her firearm owners identification card to the feds right after that.
Deadwood gave her a paid 'leave of absence' so now she gets paid for doing nothing.
Except takin' a fall for Iron Fist and his crew and keeping some serious secrets.
Of course they're paying her legal bills too.
I can't believe they get away with that shit but they do.
If I was a reporter I'd tear 'em a new one over that story.
I guess that made her the second Chief of Police that I'd end up takin' down in a row over this whole thing.
The Mole once pointed out that 'fucking with you doesn't seem to be a really good career move.'
We shared a good laugh over that one.
I was makin' enemies there almost as fast as I'm known to make friends.
And I was using the enemies of my enemy pretty effectively too.
That's why I'd reached out to Congressman Bobby Rush.
Krista'd made the introduction.
I'd read that when Rush was first elected to Congress that Iron Fist was pretty pissed off that now a black man would be representing Deadwood in Congress.
He was quoted in the newspapers saying that he wanted to secceed from the congressional district because 'there was no way that that man could represent the white ethnics of Deadwood.'
That comment really pissed off Congressman Rush and I don't think he ever forgot it.
Or forgave it.
I remember thinking 'this guy will really be a help in nailing Iron Fist to the cross' and I was right.
Congressman Rush and I are not the kind of guys who you'd ever accuse of seeing 'eye to eye' politically but we had a common enemy in Iron Fist and that's all it takes in Illinois politics... or politics in general to gain a strong ally.
I remember the Congressman pulling me out of a big meeting saying that he wanted me to get in front of the cameras with him and talk to the press.
Right after he'd given the best political speech I've ever had the great pleasure to witness.
I'm telling you I swear he channeled the spirit of a baptist preacher from the deep south of the seventies on that one.
I think the Congressman wanted Iron Fist to see him with his arm around me there smiling.
Kinda like twisting the knife if you know what I mean.
I also remember the Fox News reporter with that tight sweater and the most amazing pair of tits I'd ever seen...
I thought it was pretty funny that I'm standing next to a Congressman with about a half a dozen tv cameras in my face blowin' the lid on Iron Fist and his dirty and despicable deeds and I can't take my eyes off of this woman's rack.
I'm usually not like that...
but damn... the combination of that sweater and her upper body were a work of freakin' art...
a thing of incredible beauty.
That moment was the closest I'd ever come to feeling a woman up on live tv.
I'm glad the Congressman did most of the talking.
When I watched myself on tv that night I looked like a really honest guy lookin' right into the camera like that.
Only me and God knew where I was really looking though.
And I blame the whole thing on God anyway.
That was not the work of some plastic surgeon...
and if it was, then it was God that gave him that talent...
so I still blame God and I think he'd be honored that I do.
I felt like dirt for thinkin' that way there though.
Iron Fist and his shenanigans killed people.
Innocent people that had no idea that they were drinking that cancer water.
There were so many people with cancer there at that meeting.
I shook their hands and I hugged them.
I looked into their eyes and I listened to their stories.
And it all got me even more pissed off at what those assholes did.
Yeah... there was a certain selfish satisfaction in the imminent crucifiction of the people who'd hurt my family...
but more and more I was beginning to find myself taking up the crusade to bring these guys to justice not just for what they'd done to me and my family...
but for what they'd done to the people that trusted them.
They had to pay for what they'd done and it seemed like I was the only one with the balls and the motivation and the understanding of the situation to keep driving them towards justice.
And now I had some powerful people on my side.
Rush had called Eric Holder, the US Attorney General from the meeting and told him what was going on.
Shit was getting stirred up alright.
I was excited.
I'd seen enough in that parking lot and in the days after to know that they were soul-less and corrupt and I wanted to show everyone that.
I wanted revenge ever since that night.
There was a battle going on inside of my soul by this time.
And I found myself slowly letting the whole concept of revenge go.
More than anything...
I really wanted justice.
And I wanted it for the frail thirty eight year old woman I'd just hugged who had cancer all over her body and was sick right there from all of the chemo...
I wanted justice for her.
They had no right to do that to another human being.
Iron Fist and his whole crew hadda go down for this.
From the series 'There's Something in the Water' here on Flickr... www.flickr.com/photos/light_seeker/sets/72157627041317913...
Utterances of Christ Gospel Books Testimonies Books on Life Entry
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/books/utterances-of-christ/
"Everyone should examine anew his life of believing in God to see whether, in the pursuit of God, he has truly understood, truly comprehended, and truly come to know God, whether he truly knows what attitude God bears to the various types of human beings, and whether he truly understands what God is working upon him and how God defines his every act. "
"from The Word Appears in the Flesh"
Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
The Hymn of God's Word "God Is Seeking Your Heart and Your Spirit" | Gospel Music
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/hymn-god-is-seeking-your-...
1. Mankind who left the life supply from the Almighty does not know why they exist, and yet fears death. There is no support and no help, but mankind is still reluctant to close their eyes, braving it all, drags out an ignoble existence in this world in bodies without the consciousness of souls. You live with no hope. He lives with no aim. There’s only the Holy One in the legend, there is only the Holy One in the legend who’ll come to save those who moan in suffering and long desperately for His arrival. In the people who are unconscious, this belief can’t be realized so far. The people however still yearn for it, yearn for it.
2. The Almighty has mercy on these who suffer deeply. At the same time, He’s fed up with these who are unconscious, ’coz He has to wait, has to wait too long for the answer from mankind, from mankind. He wants to seek your spirit and your heart. He wants to bring you food and water. He wants to wake you up. So that you are thirsty no more, hungry no more. And when you are feeling weary, and when you begin to feel the desolation, the desolation of this world, do not be perplexed, do not cry. Almighty God, the Watcher, will embrace your arrival any time. And when you are feeling weary, and when you begin to feel the desolation, the desolation of this world, do not be perplexed, do not cry. Almighty God, the Watcher, will embrace your arrival any time. And when you are feeling weary, and when you begin to feel the desolation, the desolation of this world, do not be perplexed, do not cry. Almighty God, the Watcher, will embrace your arrival any time.
3. He’s watching by your side, waiting for you to turn back. He’s waiting for the day your memory suddenly recovers, becoming conscious of that you came from God, the fact that you came from God. You once lost your way somehow and somewhere, O, falling unconscious on the roadside, and then unknowingly having a “father.” You further realize that the Almighty has been watching there. He has been waiting, waiting for your return all along, all along.
4. He longs bitterly. He has been waiting, waiting for a response without an answer. His watching’s beyond price and is for the heart, for the heart and the spirit of mankind. This watching maybe will last forever, or maybe this watching has come to its end. But you ought to know, where is your heart, and where is your, your soul. Where are they? This watching maybe will last forever, or maybe this watching has come to its end. But you ought to know, where is your heart, and where is your soul. O… This watching maybe will last forever, or maybe this watching has come to its end. But you ought to know, where is your heart, and where is your, your soul. This watching maybe will last forever, or maybe this watching has come to its end. But you ought to know, where is your heart, and where is your, your soul. This watching maybe will last forever, or maybe this watching has come to its end. But you ought to know, where is your heart, and where is your soul. O… Where are they?
from “The Sighing of the Almighty” in The Word Appears in the Flesh
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
Testimonies of the survivors and descriptions of their painful experiences are written on the outer surface of the shoes. The shoes are tied with chains in place of laces, representing the bondage subjected upon each child who was forced to attend these schools
...taken at the National Portrait Gallery... portraits by Colin Davidson...
London, United Kingdom...
Christian testimonies | How to Get Over a Breakup
Qinyi confided in a sister from the church about her pain, and the sister gave her fellowship, saying: “The reason we live in pain is because we do not have the truth, because we do not understand the truth of mankind’s corruption by Satan and the cunning schemes Satan employs to deceive us. It is because we live by the wrong thinking of Satan, and because we pursue the perfect love of our imagination. We all know that, previously, when mankind was only corrupted slightly by Satan, people’s thinking was relatively conservative, as they were bound by morals and ethics and devoted particular care to real feelings and true love. Though a man and a woman may not have been devoted to each other for all their lives, they still did not overstep the boundaries too much. Now, however, mankind is being corrupted by Satan more and more deeply, and under the influence of all manner of love idols, romantic books and movies, people’s ideas about morality have been attacked and destroyed. People now advocate wickedness and they are greedy for physical lusts and enjoy the pleasures of sin. Most people regard the sordid, negative things of wickedness and promiscuity as trends, husbands and wives betraying each other is a common occurrence, and it has become even harder to find genuine love. Let’s read what God’s words have to say about this!” Qinyi turned to the chapter, “God Himself, the Unique VI,” in her book of God's word and began to read: “How Satan takes advantage of social trends to corrupt man. … One after another, all these trends carry an evil influence that continually degenerates man, causing them to continually lose conscience, humanity and reason, and that lowers their morals and their quality of character more and more, to the extent that we can even say the majority of people now have no integrity, no humanity, neither do they have any conscience, much less any reason. … For man who is not of sound body and mind, who never knows what is truth, who cannot tell the difference between positive and negative things, these kinds of trends one after another make them all willingly accept these trends, the life view and values that come from Satan. They accept what Satan tells them on how to approach life and the way to live that Satan ‘bestows’ on them. They have not the strength, neither do they have the ability, much less the awareness to resist.” “Satan uses these social trends to lure people one step at a time into a nest of devils, so that people caught up in social trends unknowingly advocate money and material desires, as well as advocate wickedness and violence. Once these things have entered man’s heart, what then does man become? Man becomes the devil Satan! This is because of what psychological leaning in the heart of man? What does man advocate? Man begins to like wickedness and violence. They do not like beauty or goodness, much less peace. People are not willing to live the simple life of normal humanity, but instead wish to enjoy high status and great wealth, to revel in the pleasures of the flesh, sparing no effort to satisfy their own flesh, with no restrictions, no bonds to hold them back, in other words doing whatever they desire.”
Abbazia di S.Bruzio, Magliano in Toscana - Maremma toscana
www.italianways.com/monastero-di-san-bruzio-ruderi-e-preg...
All rights reserved - copyright © Giancarlo Gabbrielli
My poor dreams/
of love blessed /
in the best of joy you perished /
you arose proud but unfortunate /
like birds /
in the woods you perished.
Poveri sogni miei/
d'amor beati /
nel meglio del gioir siete periti /
sorgeste fieri ma sfortunati /
come gli uccelli /
nei boschi siete periti.
----------------------------------------------------------------
click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Gesualdo Bufalino, an expert connoisseur of Sicily, wrote that the Sicilies are many, it is impossible to count them all, in Sicily "everything is mixed, changing, contradictory, as in the most composite of continents" ... and again " There is a "babba" Sicily, that is mild…a “crafty” Sicily, that is smart…there is a lazy Sicily and a frenetic one…”; but why so many Sicilies? Bufalino explained “because Sicily has had the good fortune to act as a link over the centuries between the great Western culture and the temptations of the desert and the sun, between reason and magic, the temperatures of feeling and the heat of passion. Sicily suffers from an excess of identity, and I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing." Even Leonard Sciascia, an immense Sicilian thinker, said "I continue to be convinced that Sicily offers the representation of many problems, of many contradictions, not only Italian but also European, to the point of being able to constitute the metaphor of today's world". This start to introduce the character whose life (and violent death) I wish to recall with some of my photographs (except for two images, belonging to the weekly "Epoca"), with information taken both from the WEB and from direct testimonies that I have collected in years, in summary a character who seems to embody the many faces of Sicily, his name is Salvatore Giuliano, known as the Bandit Giuliano; there are many Salvatore Giulianos, it changes according to who knew him, according to the many facts told by others or by himself (in his memoirs), he is described now as a "Robin Hood" with a noble heart, now as a ferocious brigand unscrupulous, but in any case, in this story, the use of all the "adverbs of doubt" that we know is always mandatory, because speaking of him, knowing the real truth is an illusion ... this is a story in which the pain of the many dead is the background. In speaking of him I will try to use almost telegraphic language. Salvatore Giuliano was born in Sicily in Montelepre (November 16, 1922), the son of a farmer who emigrated to America, and then returned to Sicily for the birth of his son; Salvatore soon left school to work in the fields, privately continuing to cultivate his studies. These are the years of the Second World War, the fascist regime has introduced bread rationing (the real problem is the grinding of wheat, with the mills controlled by the army, the Giulianos have a small clandestine mill), the clandestine trade in necessity becomes common, even Salvatore becomes a small smuggler, he is inexperienced when he is stopped with two sacks of wheat by two carabinieri and two country guards, they take everything from him including his documents, a distraction by the guards and quickly Salvatore tries to escape, the a few shots are fired at him, two hit him at his side, a carabiniere approaches him (Salvatore describes what happened in one of his memoirs) who is shot to death by him: from this moment on he will always be the Bandit Salvatore Giuliano ( or Turiddu, which in Sicilian means Salvatore). According to some Turiddu is a hero of the people, he hopes for a civil redemption of the Sicilian people, establishes relations with the political world, with the deviated secret services, with the Sicilian separatist movement whose initials are MIS (Sicilian Independent Movement) of which, also pushed by a colonel of the American army who deluded him that Sicily could be annexed as a state of the U.S.A. , joins his armed wing, the E.V.I.S. (Volunteer Army for Sicilian Independence), fighting with the rank of colonel against the Italian army in the two-year period 1945/46: the EVIS was commanded by the lawyer Antonio Canepa, who was killed on 17 June 1945 in a clash with the carabineer in the town of Randazzo. During this period the legend of the Bandit Giuliano was born, the peasants, the poor people in general, see in him a hope of redemption from a life of hardship and sacrifices, he is seen as a fiery lover with many fleeting stories, with women who join him in his lair by passing "the filter" of his men (he hosted a young Swedish journalist, Maria Cyjliakus, she was interested in interviewing him, with whom he also had a relationship), but he himself could reach to love the women while running many risks: in the collective imagination the idea of a brigand with a kind and good heart was developing, he often gave to the poor what he stole from the rich; but there was the dark and brutal side of his personality, he tended ambushes and assaults on the forces of order, he killed whoever he considered to be an informer of the carabinieri; the bandit was elusive, there were numerous ambushes and roundups from which he and his men managed to escape, indeed, every action carried out by the military was always followed by a retaliatory reaction, with the consequence that the killed soldiers always increased by more. The descending phase of Giuliano begins to appear on the horizon, the M.I.S. enters legality being recognized as belonging to the Sicilian Special Statute, Giuliano does not accept the agreement by continuing with his men to wage war against the state, in 1946 the new Italian government grants a pardon to the EVIS guerrillas, in this way Giuliano loses his army and his role as colonel (thus the female component of EVIS was dissolved too, with about 20 women, his sister Mariannina was also part of it); with the first institutional referendum the monarchy falls, the Republic is born, the peasant movement hopes for change and agrarian reform, the struggle in defense of their rights leads to the killing of trade unionists (Miraglia, Rizzotto, Carnevale) whose instigators will never be discovered ; Giuliano establishes relations with the mafia, meets men of the institutions, leading to suspect that behind many (villainous) actions of Giuliano and behind his death, many responsibilities and mysteries are hidden, on which no light has yet been shed. We arrive on May 1, 1947, in the countryside of Portella della Ginestra near Piana degli Albanesi (PA), there is a large crowd of peasants gathered to celebrate Workers' Day, there are also many women and children, suddenly the The festive atmosphere is dramatically interrupted by the shots of a machine gun and other weapons of various kinds, including the launch of grenades, 11 people remain lifeless on the field (including two children), and many injured on whose number there is no concordance; the massacre began the "crisis of May 1947" with attacks on the headquarters of left-wing parties and labor chambers in the area, the reasons for which would be linked, it has been said ... to Giuliano's aversion to the Communists ... but also to the will of the mafia powers to maintain the old balance in the new institutional framework (editor's note: it seems that Giuliano a Portella only wanted to teach a lesson to Girolamo Li Causi, leader of the communists, who was warned of the ambush, and did not show up in Portella, in my opinion Giuliano's aforementioned aversion to the Communists does not stand up, he who always found warmth, protection and complicity precisely on the part of those peasants who were slaughtered; whoever organized the massacre was a criminal and refined mind, he frightened peasant movements, and at the same time decreed the unpopularity of the bandit Giuliano who saw scorched earth around him: mafia men extraneous to Giuliano's gang equipped with 9-gauge rifles fired, while the men of the the band had 6.5 caliber weapons, just as Giuliano's men did not possess grenade launchers; Giuliano tried to exculpate himself by writing his "Memorial on the events of Portella della Ginestra" in the newspapers, claiming that he was in possession of documents that would have demonstrated who were the real culprits of the massacre). The circle was tightening around Giuliano, the forces of order made use of the mafia to convince his trusted lieutenant Gaspare Pisciotta to collaborate with them, they made use of informants, such as Salvatore Ferreri, known as frà Diavolo, head of the anti-banditry forces was the colonel of the carabinieri Ugo Luca; on July 5, 1950 Salvatore Giuliano was killed, it seems there was a firefight with the carabinieri in the courtyard of the house of the lawyer. De Maria in Castelvetrano (TP), however it is a staging, the journalists who immediately rushed to the place where the body lies notice it, the blood impregnates the undershirt on the back, no blood comes out of several holes, on the side of the arm there is a " laceration of the skin" (as if the limb had been in contact with ice), one of the journalists who notices these and other details, Tommaso Besozzi, writes his journalistic article by titling it "certainly there is only that he died ” (l'Europeo n. 29, year 1950), actually to kill him while he was sleeping with a pistol shot, perhaps stunned by a drug put in the wine, it would have been his most trusted man, Gaspare Pisciotta, who was subsequently arrested, and during the Viterbo trial he would scream from the cage "we were one body, bandits, police and mafia, like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" , he is ready to name names, revelations, but he won't have time, inside the Ucciardone prison in Palermo, to deliver a lethal dose of strychnine put in a medicine prescribed for his tuberculosis (not in coffee) he will kill him sooner trying to vomit. The story does not seem to have to end when, following a report from Professor Giuseppe Casarrubea, an important historian, who had Giuliano's body exhumed in 2010 with his complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office, assuming that the tomb held the corpse of a double, the However, DNA tests would have shown a genetic profile compatible with that of a nephew of Giuliano. On Salvatore's tomb, a month later, the verses sent by letter to his mother by a woman who signed herself “Santuzza” were carved, verses which declared that she had received them personally from her son Salvatore: “My poor dreams/of love blessed /in the best of joy you perished /you arose proud butunfortunate/like birds /in the woods you perished”. Santuzza was the pseudonym of Maddalena Lo Giudice, when she was young she is described as a beautiful, shy, reserved girl, she was the daughter of the Podestà of her town (during the fascist regime, the Podestà was the head of the municipal administration), it seems they met in a hospital in Catania, each visiting an acquaintance of their own, Maddalena would have had from Giuliano: a son (she was subjected to a gynecological examination to ascertain its veracity against her will), a box with valuables, and a memorial, in which Giuliano would have wrote very important things about his relationships with "men of the state and not"; Maddalena later said that she had handed everything over to a trusted person, who would have bricked everything up, later perhaps frightened by the great clamor that had arisen around her, in a journalistic interview she declared that she had dreamed and invented everything… (note of the editor: I have always tried much emotion for this poor woman, it would be interesting to be able to trace a psychological profile, her father was the Podestà of the town, always benefiting from the doubt, as in all this story, people told me that His father as Podestà took away from the poor people even what little they had, who knows if the poor Maddalena fell in love with Giuliano also because he represented her antithesis, giving to the poor what she took away from the rich people...), Maddalena went to give birth in secret from the well-meaning eyes of the town (not being a married woman it would have created a scandal) in Calabria, that son to protect him was immediately placed in an orphanage (all the forces of order in Sicily were looking for the bandit Giuliano, who knows what would have happened if he had come to know of a son of him ..! they would have used it as one does with a lamb tied to a post, waiting for the arrival of the fair…); upon Giuliano's death, this woman was joined by Salvatore's mother (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) and sister (Mariannina Giuliano), to have all that Salvatore had left to Maddalena, who certainly had sworn not to give anyone what she had received from him, certainly until when Maddalena would have kept "the treasure" hidden with her (certainly not the jewels, the true value was her memorial!), no one would have hurt her; however, Maddalena took this secret of hers with her to her grave. In her old age Maddalena lived secluded, she was a solitary type, she had to resort to dialysis for a serious kidney infection, for which she had to be accompanied several times a week by a driver to the hospital, she had severe pain for which she had to resort to powerful analgesics, the only ones who gave her any affection were her many dogs, the only ones who managed to reassure her, she never had the affection of that only son she had from Salvatore, of whom nothing was ever known (there were a couple of characters who declared themselves the children of the bandit, but nothing has ever been ascertained). In conclusion, I learned of a Sicilian film operator, who worked for Incom Week (it was an Italian newsreel, distributed weekly in cinemas), who at the news of the killing of the bandit Giuliano (like many journalists) immediately went to Castelvetrano to the house of the lawyer De Maria, where he allegedly found Salvatore's body, he said that when Salvatore's mother arrived, she kissed him in a heartbreaking, terribly moving way, including the parts covered in blood, that Incom operator said, that the emotion was so great for him to seeing that Mother …he did not have the courage to continue filming: I would like to end by saying that the tremendous pain of that Mother was the tremendous pain of All those Mothers who saw their son (or their husbands) to perish in that so dark not so far period of history of Sicily.
………………………………………….
Scriveva Gesualdo Bufalino, esperto conoscitore della Sicilia, che le Sicilie sono tante, impossibile contarle tutte, in Sicilia “tutto è mischiato, cangiante, contraddittorio, come nel più composito dei continenti”…ed ancora ” Vi è una Sicilia “babba”, cioè mite…una Sicilia “sperta”, cioè furba…vi è una Sicilia pigra ed una frenetica…”; ma come mai così tante Sicilie? Bufalino spiegava “perché la Sicilia ha avuto la sorte di ritrovarsi a far da cerniera nei secoli fra la grande cultura occidentale e le tentazioni del deserto e del sole, tra la ragione e la magia, le temperie del sentimento e le canicole della passione. Soffre, la Sicilia, di un eccesso d'identità, né so se sia un bene o sia un male.” Anche Sciascia, immenso pensatore siciliano, diceva “Continuo ad essere convinto che la Sicilia offre la rappresentazione di tanti problemi, di tante contraddizioni, non solo italiani ma anche europei, al punto da poter costituire la metafora del mondo odierno”. Questo incipit per introdurre il personaggio del quale desidero rievocarne la vita (e la morte violenta) con alcune mie fotografie (tranne due immagini, appartenenti al settimanale “Epoca”), con notizie prese sia dal WEB, sia da testimonianze dirette che ho raccolto negli anni, in sintesi un personaggio che sembra incarnare i tanti volti della Sicilia, lui si chiama Salvatore Giuliano, noto come il Bandito Giuliano; sono tanti i Salvatore Giuliano, cambia in base a chi lo conobbe, in base ai tantissimi fatti raccontati da altri o da lui stesso (nei suoi memoriali), viene descritto ora come un “Robin Hood” dal cuore nobile, ora come un feroce brigante privo di scrupoli, però in ogni caso, in questa storia, è sempre obbligatorio l’uso di tutti gli “avverbi di dubbio o dubitativi” che conosciamo, perché parlando di lui conoscere la vera verità è una utopia…una vicenda questa, nella quale il dolore dei tanti morti, fa da sfondo. Nel parlarne cercherò di adoperare un linguaggio quasi telegrafico. Salvatore Giuliano nasce in Sicilia a Montelepre (il 16 novembre 1922), figlio di un contadino emigrato in America, e poi rientrato in Sicilia per la nascita del figlio; Salvatore abbandonò presto la scuola per lavorare nei campi, continuando privatamente a coltivare i suoi studi. Sono gli anni della seconda guerra mondiale, il regime fascista ha introdotto il razionamento del pane (il vero problema è la macinazione del grano, coi mulini controllati dall’esercito, i Giuliano hanno un piccolo mulino clandestino), il commercio clandestino degli alimenti di prima necessità diviene comune, anche Salvatore diviene un piccolo contrabbandiere, è inesperto quando viene fermato con due sacchi di grano da due carabinieri e da due guardie campestri, gli prendono tutto incluso i suoi documenti, una distrazione delle guardie e lestamente Salvatore tenta la fuga, gli vengono sparati contro alcuni colpi, due lo raggiungono ad un fianco, gli si avvicina un carabiniere (Salvatore descrive l’accaduto in un suo memoriale) che viene da lui colpito a morte: da questo momento in poi sarà per sempre il Bandito Salvatore Giuliano (o Turiddu, che in siciliano significa Salvatore). Secondo alcuni Turiddu è un eroe del popolo, egli spera in un riscatto civile del popolo siciliano, allaccia rapporti col mondo politico, coi servizi segreti deviati, col movimento separatista siciliano la cui sigla è MIS (Movimento Indipendentista Siciliano) del quale, spinto anche da un colonnello dell’esercito americano che lo illuse che la Sicilia poteva essere annessa come stato degli U.S.A. , entra a far parte del suo braccio armato, l’E.V.I.S. (Esercito Volontario per l’Indipendenza Siciliana), combattendo col grado di colonnello contro l’esercito italiano nel biennio 1945/46: l’EVIS era comandato dall’avv. Antonio Canepa, che viene ucciso il 17 giugno del 1945 in uno scontro coi carabinieri nel paese di Randazzo. Durante questo periodo nasce la leggenda del Bandito Giuliano, i contadini, la povera gente in generale, vede in lui una speranza di riscatto di una vita di stenti e di sacrifici, viene visto come un focoso amante dalle tante fugaci storie, con donne che lo raggiungono nel suo covo oltrepassando “il filtro” dei suoi uomini (ospitò una giovane giornalista svedese, Maria Cyjliakus, interessata ad intervistarlo, con la quale ebbe anche una relazione), ma poteva egli stesso raggiungere le amate pur correndo molti rischi: nell’immaginario collettivo si andava maturando l’idea di un brigante dal cuore gentile e buono, egli spesso donava ai poveri quello che sottraeva ai ricchi; però c’era il lato oscuro e brutale della sua personalità, egli tendeva agguati ed assalti alle forze dell’ordine, uccideva chi considerava essere un informatore dei carabinieri; il bandito era imprendibile, numerosi erano gli agguati ed i rastrellamenti ai quali lui ed i suoi uomini riuscivano a sottrarsi, anzi, ad ogni azione condotta dai militari, faceva sempre seguito una reazione di rappresaglia, con la conseguenza che i militari uccisi aumentavano sempre di più. La fase discendente di Giuliano incomincia ad apparire all’orizzonte, il M.I.S. entra nella legalità venendo riconosciuta come appartenente allo Statuto Speciale Siciliano, Giuliano non accetta l’accordo continuando coi suoi uomini a fare guerra allo stato, nel 1946 il nuovo governo italiano concede l’indulto ai guerriglieri dell’EVIS, in tal modo Giuliano perde il suo esercito ed il suo ruolo di colonnello (viene così sciolta la componente femminile dell’EVIS, con circa 20 donne, vi faceva anche parte sua sorella Mariannina); col primo referendum istituzionale cade la monarchia, nasce la Repubblica, il movimento contadino spera nel cambiamento e nella riforma agraria, la lotta in difesa dei loro diritti porta alla uccisione di sindacalisti (Miraglia, Rizzotto, Carnevale) dei quali non si scopriranno mai i mandanti; Giuliano stringe rapporti con la mafia, incontra uomini delle istituzioni, inducendo a sospettare che dietro molte azioni (scellerate) di Giuliano e dietro la sua morte, si celino tante responsabilità e misteri, sulle quali non si è fatto ancora luce. Arriviamo al 1° Maggio del 1947, nelle campagne di Portella della Ginestra nei pressi di Piana degli Albanesi (PA), c’è una gran folla di contadini riuniti per celebrare la festa dei lavoratorI, ci sono anche tante donne e bambini, improvvisamente l’atmosfera festosa viene interrotta drammaticamente dai colpi di una mitragliatrice e di altre armi di vario genere, tra queste anche lancio di granate, sul campo restano senza vita 11 persone (tra queste due bambini), e molti feriti sul cui numero non c’è concordanza; la strage dette inizio alla “crisi del maggio 1947” con assalti alle sedi dei partiti di sinistra e delle camere del lavoro della zona, le cui motivazioni sarebbero legate, si è detto… all’avversione di Giuliano per i comunisti…ma anche alla volontà dei poteri mafiosi di mantenere i vecchi equilibri nel nuovo quadro istituzionale (n.d.r. sembra che Giuliano a Portella volesse solo dare una lezione a Girolamo Li Causi, leader dei comunisti, il quale fu avvisato dell’agguato,e non si presentò a Portella, secondo me non regge la citata avversione di Giuliano per i comunisti, lui che trovava sempre calore, protezione e complicità proprio da parte di quei contadini che furono trucidati; chi organizzò la strage era una mente criminale e raffinata, spaventò i movimenti contadini, e nel contempo decretò la subentrata impopolarità del bandito Giuliano che vide farsi attorno terra bruciata: spararono uomini mafiosi estranei alla banda di Giuliano dotati di fucili calibro 9, mentre gli uomini della banda avevano armi calibro 6,5, così come gli uomini di Giuliano non possedevano lanciagranate; Giuliano tentò di discolparsi scrivendo sui giornali un suo “Memoriale sui fatti di Portella della Ginestra”, sostenendo di essere in possesso di documenti che avrebbero dimostrato chi erano i veri colpevoli della strage). Il cerchio si andava stringendo attorno a Giuliano, le forze dell’ordine si avvalsero della mafia per convincere a collaborare con loro il suo fidatissimo luogotenente Gaspare Pisciotta, si avvalsero di informatori, come Salvatore Ferreri, detto frà Diavolo, a capo delle forze antibanditismo c’era il colonnello dei carabinieri Ugo Luca; il 5 luglio del 1950 viene ucciso Salvatore Giuliano, sembra ci sia stato un conflitto a fuoco coi carabinieri nel cortile della casa dell’avv. De Maria a Castelvetrano (TP), però è una messinscena, se ne accorgono i giornalisti accorsi immediatamente sul luogo dove giace il corpo, il sangue impregna la canottiera sul dorso, da diversi fori non fuoriesce sangue, sul lato del braccio è presente una “lacerazione della cute” (come se l’arto fosse stato a contatto con del ghiaccio), uno dei giornalisti che si accorge di questi ed altri dettagli, Tommaso Besozzi, scrive il suo articolo giornalistico intitolandolo “di sicuro c’è solo che è morto” (l'Europeo n. 29, anno 1950), in realtà ad ucciderlo mentre dormiva con un colpo di pistola, forse stordito da una droga messa nel vino, sarebbe stato il suo uomo più fidato, Gaspare Pisciotta, il quale successivamente viene arrestato, e durante il processo di Viterbo dalla gabbia urlerà “noi eravamo un corpo solo, banditi, polizia e mafia, come il Padre, il Figlio e lo Spirito Santo”, Pisciotta è pronto a fare nomi, rivelazioni, ma non farà in tempo, all’interno del carcere dell’Ucciardone di Palermo, una dose letale di stricnina messa dentro un medicinale prescrittogli per la sua tubercolosi (non dentro il caffè) lo stroncherà prima che possa tentare di vomitare. La storia sembra non dover finire, quando, in seguito ad una segnalazione del professore Giuseppe Casarrubea, importante storiografo, che fece riesumare con un suo esposto in Procura la salma di Giuliano nel 2010, ipotizzando che la tomba custodiva il cadavere di un sosia, il test del DNA avrebbe però dimostrato un profilo genetico compatibile con quello di un nipote di Giuliano. Sulla tomba di Salvatore, un mese dopo, vennero scolpiti i versi inviati per lettera a sua madre (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) di una donna che si firmava “Santuzza”, versi che dichiarava di averli avuti personalmente da suo figlio Salvatore: “Poveri sogni miei d’amor beati, nel meglio del gioir siete periti, sorgeste fieri ma sfortunati, e come uccello nei boschi siete spariti”. “Santuzza” in realtà si chiamava Maddalena Lo Giudice, quando era giovane viene descritta come una bellissima ragazza, timida, riservata, era la figlia del Podestà del suo paese (durante il regime fascista, il Podestà era il capo dell'amministrazione comunale), sembra si conobbero in un nosocomio di Catania, visitando ognuno un proprio conoscente, Maddalena avrebbe avuto da Salvatore un figlio (fu sottoposta suo malgrado a visita ginecologica per appurarne la veridicità), un cofanetto con dei valori, ed un memoriale, nel quale Giuliano avrebbe scritto cose importantissime circa i suoi rapporti con “uomini dello stato e non”; Maddalena successivamente disse di aver consegnato tutto ad una persona fidata, la quale avrebbe murato tutto, successivamente forse impaurita dal grande clamore che si era alzato attorno a lei, in una intervista giornalistica dichiarò che si era sognato ed inventato tutto…(n.d.r. ho sempre provato molta commozione per questa povera donna, sarebbe interessante poterne tracciare un profilo psicologico, suo padre era il Podestà del paese, beneficiando sempre del dubbio, come in tutta questa storia, mi dissero che toglieva ai poveri anche quel poco che avevano, chissà se la povera Maddalena si innamorò di Giuliano anche perché lui ne rappresentava l’antitesi, dando ai poveri quel che toglieva ai possidenti…), Maddalena andò a partorire di nascosto dagli occhi benpensanti del paese (non essendo una donna sposata avrebbe creato scandalo) in Calabria, quel figlio per proteggerlo fu messo subito in un orfanotrofio (tutte le forze dell’ordine della Sicilia cercavano il bandito Giuliano, chissà cosa sarebbe accaduto se si fosse venuto a sapere di un figlio suo..! lo avrebbero usato come si fa con un agnello legato al palo, aspettando l’arrivo della fiera…); questa donna alla morte di Giuliano fu raggiunta dalla sua mamma (Maria Giuliano Lombardo) e da sua sorella Mariannina (Mariannina Giuliano), per avere tutto quello che Salvatore aveva lasciato a Maddalena, la quale sicuramente gli aveva fatto un giuramento, di non dare a nessuno quanto da lui aveva ricevuto, certamente fino a quando Maddalena avrebbe tenuto nascosto con se “il tesoro” (non certo i gioielli, il vero valore era il suo memoriale !), nessuno le avrebbe fatto del male; comunque, Maddalena si è portata con se nella tomba questo suo segreto. In vecchiaia Maddalena viveva appartata, era un tipo solitario, doveva fare ricorso alla dialisi per una grave infezione renale, per la qual cosa doveva farsi accompagnare varie volte la settimana da un autista in ospedale, aveva forti dolori per i quali doveva fare ricorso a potenti analgesici, gli unici a darle un po’ di affetto, erano i suoi molti cani, gli unici che riuscivano a rasserenarla, non ebbe mai l’affetto di quell’unico figlio avuto da Salvatore, del quale non si è mai saputo nulla (ci furono un paio di personaggi che si autodichiararono i figli del bandito, ma non si è mai appurato nulla). Concludo, seppi di un operatore cinematografico siciliano, che lavorava per La Settimana Incom (essa era un cinegiornale italiano, distribuito settimanalmente nei cinema), il quale alla notizia dell’uccisione del bandito Giuliano (come tanti giornalisti) si recò immediatamente a Castelvetrano in casa dell’avv. De Maria, dove avrebbe trovato il corpo di Salvatore, egli raccontò che quando arrivò la madre di Salvatore, lo baciò in maniera struggente, terribilmente commovente, incluse le parti coperte di sangue, quell’operatore Incom disse, che fu talmente grande la commozione che provò nel vedere quella Madre, che non ebbe il coraggio di continuare le riprese: vorrei terminare dicendo, che il dolore tremendo di quella Madre, è stato il dolore tremendo di Tutte quelle Madri che hanno visto perire i loro figli (od i loro mariti) in quel periodo così buio della storia di Sicilia.
……………………………………………………………………………..
The Power of Faith in God | Christian Video | "Seventeen? The Hell You Are!" (English Dubbed Movie)
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/seventeen-the-hell-you-are/
"Kid! Do you know that the Communist Party is atheist and against belief in God? In China, what God is there for you to believe in? Where is this God of yours?" "Do not assume that because you are young, we will be lenient with you! If you keep believing in God, you will end up dead!" With electric rods in hands, the Chinese Communist police rush this youngster who is covered with bruises.
This youngster's name is Gao Liang and he was 17 years old that year. He was on his way home from spreading the gospelwith an older brother when he was arrested by the Chinese Communist police. The police did not give him anything to eat nor allowed him to sleep for three days and three nights. They interrogated him, tried to extort a confession from him and subjected him to cruel torture. They even used electric rods to shock him on his chin, both his hands and his lower area. They tried to force him to betray God and give them information regarding the church leaders and the financial resources of the church through blackmailing him. This involved threatening to arrest his parents and to get his school to expel him. Unable to achieve its objectives, the Chinese Communist government sentenced him to one year of reeducation through labor. While in prison, not only did Gao Liang endure excessive labor requirements, he was also humiliated and tormented. In the prison, Gao Liang experienced what can only be called hell on earth. During this painful refinement, Gao Liang prayed to God and relied on God. Almighty God's words enlightened him to understand God's intentions. It gave him faith and strength and it guided him so that he could get through the one year he was in prison. The Chinese Communist government's persecution and arrest are engraved in Gao Liang's heart. He sees clearly and deeply experienced the evil essence of the Chinese Communist government and its antagonism toward God. In this world where Satan's powers hold sway, only God loves man the most. Only God can save man. His faith and will to follow God became even more resolute. Gao Liang says that these trials and tribulations are valuable treasures for his life growth and development. It was a special present that God gave him for his 17th year …
Recommended:
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
Christian Variety Show | Testimony of the Faith of a Christian "Escaping the Cage" (2018 Crosstalk)
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/escaping-the-cage/
The crosstalk Escaping the Cage tells the story of how Christian Xiaolan was persecuted and locked in her home for a month by her Communist Party official father, where she was unable to take part in church life, and her experience of escaping her home and running away. A once-happy family was split apart, a daughter left her mother, and her father held a deep grudge against her. Who was the chief architect? And who gave Xiaolan faith and strength, and led her to escape her cage and walk the correct path in life?
Recommended for You：Christian Skit
Image Source: The Church of Almighty God
Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
The Power of Faith in God | Christian Documentary| "Seventeen? The Hell You Are!" (English Dubbed Movie)
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/videos/seventeen-the-hell-you-are/
Introduction
"Kid! Do you know that the Communist Party is atheist and against belief in God? In China, what God is there for you to believe in? Where is this God of yours?" "Do not assume that because you are young, we will be lenient with you! If you keep believing in God, you will end up dead!" With electric rods in hands, the Chinese Communist police rush this youngster who is covered with bruises.
This youngster's name is Gao Liang and he was 17 years old that year. He was on his way home from spreading the gospel with an older brother when he was arrested by the Chinese Communist police. The police did not give him anything to eat nor allowed him to sleep for three days and three nights. They interrogated him, tried to extort a confession from him and subjected him to cruel torture. They even used electric rods to shock him on his chin, both his hands and his lower area. They tried to force him to betray God and give them information regarding the church leaders and the financial resources of the church through blackmailing him. This involved threatening to arrest his parents and to get his school to expel him. Unable to achieve its objectives, the Chinese Communist government sentenced him to one year of reeducation through labor. While in prison, not only did Gao Liang endure excessive labor requirements, he was also humiliated and tormented. In the prison, Gao Liang experienced what can only be called hell on earth. During this painful refinement, Gao Liang prayed to God and relied on God. Almighty God words enlightened him to understand God's intentions. It gave him faith and strength and it guided him so that he could get through the one year he was in prison. The Chinese Communist government's persecution and arrest are engraved in Gao Liang's heart. He sees clearly and deeply experienced the evil essence of the Chinese Communist government and its antagonism toward God. In this world where Satan's powers hold sway, only God loves man the most. Only God can save man. His faith and will to follow God became even more resolute. Gao Liang says that these trials and tribulations are valuable treasures for his life growth and development. It was a special present that God gave him for his 17th year …
Recommended for You ：Christian testimonies
Image Source: The Church of Almighty God
Terms of Use: en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html
“……………………………………”
“…………………………………..”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
…………………………………………………………………
The cult of the three holy martyr brothers Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino is widespread in almost all of Eastern Sicily since the early Middle Ages, the news we have on the life and martyrdom of the three brothers are contained in a document written by a Basilian monk , his own name Basilio, whose manuscript is in the Vatican Library, with the number 1591; the manuscript reports that the three saints suffered the persecution of Valerian and martyrdom in 253; the three brothers were born in Vaste, in the province of Lecce, were arrested (and later martyred) for having professed the Christian religion using their noble influence, as their parents, Vitale and Beatrice had previously done, who were also they barbarously martyred for professing their religious beliefs; the three brothers, after having undergone several trials throughout the central-southern territory of Italy, since no one wanted to condemn them with a definitive sentence as belonging to one of the most important families of the empire, were brought to Taormina by Tertullo, a young Roman patrician and head of the island, who, failing to detach them from their creed, sent them to Lentini; during the journey, the group stopped in two places, here the villages of Sant'Alfio and Trecastagni were born, then they reached Catania and were imprisoned here, finally they were taken to Lentini, where they died through atrocious tortures. Before undergoing martyrdom, they were intercessors of miraculous works, Tecla and Giustina were two young countesses, among them cousins, Tecla for more than six years suffered from a severe form of paralysis in the legs, while Giustina was blind in one eye, they learning of miraculous healings that occurred through their intercession during their forced journey from Rome to Lentini, they turned to them, receiving healing. On the day of their torture they were handcuffed and whipped in the streets of the city, exposed naked and barefoot to the ridicule of the people: Alfio's tongue was ripped off (he became the patron saint of the Mutes), Philadelphus was burned on a grill, Cirino was thrown in a cauldron of boiling pitch. The villages of Sant’Alfio and Trecastagni, on the slopes of Etna, and of Lentini, commemorate the three Saints Brothers with very heartfelt and participatory traditional feast. The photographic story that I present here was made this year 2022 on the occasion of the feast held on May 10 in the Etnean village of Trecastagni (the name Trecastagni seems to derive from the Latin "tres casti agni" that is "three chaste lambs", but not everyone agrees on this etymology; the feast is celebrated on May 10, as their martyrdom took place on this day in 253 , Alfio was twenty-two years and seven months old, Philadelphus twenty-one, Cirino nineteen and eight months). The feast and the procession celebrated in Trecastagni have much in common with the one celebrated, always in honor of the Three Holy Brothers, in the town of Sant'Alfio (see my previous photographic story), even if in Trecastagni there is something larger and more varied; in the late afternoon on May 9, a competition of pyrotechnic games begins, which will be the thunderous background sound until late at night, in the night between On 9th and 10th the so-called "naked" arrive, who are not naked, they arrive, out of devotion, from the most varied and even distant localities, they are dressed in red shorts and a red strip on the chest, sometimes they are bare-chested, others, with a white T-shirt, they are barefoot, sometimes they wear woolen socks, they carry a large lighted candle on their shoulders, having arrived inside the Sanctuary, in front of the cell where the Three Brothers are still enclosed, the devotees tired from the long journey, recover their strength, indulging in an emotional invocation "face to face", mentioning only the name of Alfio (as representative of all three brothers); the morning of the 10th is a day of great celebration, sellers of fresh and very fragrant garlic can be seen along the streets, there are stalls selling products of all kinds, from food, to various objects, such as hats, shoes or clothes, characteristic tambourines Sicilians with sacred images printed on them; the carts arrive in the parade, the "Sicilian" ones painted with battle scenes between the brave Paladins against the ferocious Saracens, but there are also the carts that once served to transport people and/or things; a visit inside the Sanctuary will reveal the presence of objects possessed by “miracled” people and left as a gift as testimony (busts, corrective corsets, sticks, crutches, letters of thanks), there are “ex voto” in wax, reproducing the miraculously healed organs such as arms, heads, legs, there are "ex votos" in silver, also reproducing the miraculously healed organs, there are "ex votos" in the form of oil paintings, on wooden or metal plates, with the names of the "miracled" and the scenes that describe what happened (from the most ancient ones, where falls from horses or overturned carts are often painted, to then make way for more recent tragedies, with accidents caused by motor vehicles; episodes of war; surgery). Before 1.00 pm the so-called "unveiled" takes place, from the cell of the Sanctuary, in which the Three Holy Brothers were imprisoned for almost a year, They are exposed with great emotion of those present; the "rail" on which the statues will be brought down is prepared with great skill, to thus take their place on the float. At 1.00 pm sharp the vara leaves the Sanctuary, amidst the ovation of all the faithful who have come in large numbers from many centres, near and far, thus begins the exciting and moving rite (some children cry, frightened) with children being shown to the Three Holy Brothers, some of them very young, taken by the expert hands of the devotees present on the vara, thus invoke their benevolence and protection. The vara then moves towards the outskirts of the town, with great effort on the part of the shooters, who use two large ropes to pull it, they have to overcome a steep climb, then the vara at 3.00 pm enters the Mother Church, at 06.00 pm the vara follow another well-established itinerary. With the octave of the feast, on May 17, the festivities end, the Saints will remain unveiled until the first Sunday of June, after which they will be locked up again in their cell, until the following year.
Il culto dei tre fratelli santi martiri Alfio, Filadelfo e Cirino è molto diffuso in quasi tutta la Sicilia Orientale fin dall'alto medioevo, le notizie che possediamo sulla vita e sul martirio dei tre fratelli, sono contenute in un documento scritto da un monaco basiliano, di nome proprio Basilio, il cui manoscritto si trova nella Biblioteca Vaticana, col numero 1591; il manoscritto riporta che i tre Santi hanno subito il la persecuzione di Valeriano ed il martirio nel 253; i tre fratelli nacquero a Vaste, in provincia di Lecce, vennero arrestati (ed in seguito martirizzati) per aver professato la religione cristiana utilizzando la loro influenza nobile, come avevano fatto in precedenza i loro genitori, Vitale e Beatrice, i quali furono anch’essi barbaramente martirizzati per aver professato il loro credo religioso; i tre fratelli, dopo aver subito parecchi processi per tutto il territorio centro-meridionale d'Italia, visto che nessuno voleva condannarli con una sentenza definitiva in quanto appartenenti ad una delle famiglie più importanti dell’impero, furono portati a Taormina da Tertullo, giovane patrizio romano e Preside dell'isola, il quale non riuscendo a scostarli dal loro credo li inviò a Lentini; durante il tragitto, il gruppo si fermò in due luoghi, qui in seguito nacquero i paesi di Sant'Alfio e Trecastagni, poi giunsero a Catania e qui furono rinchiusi in carcere, infine furono condotti a Lentini, dove trovarono la morte mediante atroci supplizi. Prima di subire il martirio, essi furono intercessori di opere miracolose, Tecla e Giustina erano due giovani contesse, tra loro cugine, Tecla da più di sei anni soffriva di una grave forma di paralisi alle gambe, mentre Giustina era cieca in un occhio, esse venendo a conoscenza di guarigioni miracolose avvenute per loro intercessione durante il loro tragitto forzato da Roma a Lentini, si rivolsero a loro, ricevendo la guarigione. Il giorno del loro supplizio furono ammanettati e frustati per le vie della città, esposti nudi e scalzi allo scherno del popolo: ad Alfio venne strappata la lingua (divenne così il Santo protettore dei Muti), Filadelfo fu bruciato su di una graticola, Cirino fu gettato in una caldaia di pece bollente. I paesi di Sant’Alfio e di Trecastagni, alle pendici dell’Etna, e di Lentini, ricordano i tre Santi Fratelli con delle feste tradizionali molto sentite e partecipate. Il racconto fotografico che qui presento, è stato realizzato quest’anno 2022, in occasione della festa che si tiene il 10 maggio nel paese etneo di Trecastagni (il nome Trecastagni sembra derivare dal latino “tres casti agni” cioè “tre casti agnelli”, ma non tutti sono d’accordo su questa etimologia; la festa si celebra il 10 maggio, in quanto in tale giorno del 253 avvenne il loro martirio, Alfio aveva ventidue anni e sette mesi, Filadelfo ventuno, Cirino diciannove e otto mesi). La festa e la processione che si celebrano a Trecastagni hanno molto in comune con quella celebrata, sempre in onore dei Tre Santi Fratelli, nel paese di Sant’Alfio (vedi il mio precedente racconto fotografico), anche se a Trecastagni si assiste a qualcosa di più grande e variegato; nel pomeriggio inoltrato del 9 maggio inizia una gara di giochi pirotecnici, che farà da fragoroso sottofondo fino a notte inoltrata, nella notte tra il 9 ed il 10 arrivano i cosiddetti “nudi”, che poi nudi non sono, essi arrivano, per devozione, dalle più svariate ed anche lontane località, sono vestiti con pantaloncini ed una fascia sul petto rossi, a volte sono a petto nudo, altre, con una magliettina bianca, sono scalzi, a volte indossano calze di lana, portano in spalla un grosso cero acceso, arrivati dentro al Santuario, davanti alla cella dove ancora sono racchiusi i Tre Fratelli, i devoti stanchi per il lungo viaggio, recuperano le loro forze, lasciandosi andare ad un emozionante invocazione “a tu per tu”, nominando solo il nome di Alfio (come rappresentante di tutti e tre i fratelli); la mattina del 10 è giorno di gran festa, si vedono venditori di aglio fresco e profumatissimo lungo le strade, ci sono bancarelle che vendono prodotti di ogni genere, da quelli alimentari, ad oggetti svariati, come cappelli, scarpe o vestiti, caratteristici i tamburelli siciliani con sopra stampate immagini sacre; arrivano i carretti in sfilata, quelli “Siciliani” dipinti con scene di battaglie tra i prodi Paladini contro i feroci Saraceni, ma ci sono anche i carretti che una volta servivano per il trasporto di persone e/o cose; una visita dentro il Santuario rivelerà la presenza di oggetti posseduti da persone “miracolate” e lasciate in dono come testimonianza (busti, corpetti correttivi, bastoni, stampelle, lettere di ringraziamento), ci sono “ex voto” in cera, con arti miracolati e guariti, come braccia, teste, gambe, ci sono “ex voto” in argento, anch’essi riproducenti gli organi miracolati, ci sono "ex voto" in forma di dipinti ad olio, su tavole in legno o metalliche, con sopra i nomi dei “miracolati” e le scene che descrivono quanto accaduto (da quelle più antiche, ove spesso sono dipinte le cadute da cavallo od i carretti ribaltatisi, per poi lasciare posto a tragedie più recenti, con gli incidenti causati dai mezzi a motore; episodi di guerra; interventi chirurgici). Prima delle ore 13,00 avviene la cosiddetta “svelata”, la cella del Santuario, nella quale i Tre Santi Fratelli sono stati rinchiusi per quasi un anno, vengono esposti con grande commozione dei presenti; si prepara con grande perizia “il binario” sul quale le statue verranno fatte scendere, per prendere così posto sulla vara (il fercolo). Alle 13,00 in punto la vara esce dal Santuario, in mezzo all’ovazione di tutti i fedeli giunti numerosissimi da tantissimi centri, vicini e lontani, inizia così il rito emozionante e commovente (qualche bambino piange, spaventato) della presentazione dei bimbi messi al cospetto dei Tre Santi Fratelli, alcuni in tenerissima età, presi dalle mani espertissime dei devoti presenti sulla vara, si invoca in tal modo la loro benevolenza e protezione. La vara successivamente si sposta verso la periferia del paese, con gran fatica da parte dei tiratori, che utilizzano due grossi canapi per tirarla, essi devono vincere una ripida salita, la vara alle ore 15,00 entra così nella Chiesa Madre, alle ore 18,00 la vara fuoriesce, per percorre un altro itinerario ben stabilito. Con l’ottava della festa, il 17 maggio, i festeggiamenti terminano, i Santi rimarranno svelati fino alla prima domenica di giugno, dopo verranno rinchiusi nuovamente nella loro cella, fino all’anno successivo.
Gospel Movies | Introduction | Praise and Worship Song|"Life's Testimonies"
The central government has ordered that all religions must be banned,
especially The Church of Almighty God.
Troops won’t be withdrawn until the ban is done.
Understand?
Yes!
Move out!
Yes sir!
What are you up to?
Having a meeting?
The nation has ruled that
any gathering of three or more people is illegal
and it disrupts social order.
Take them away!
Come on!
“Christ of the last daysbrings life,
and brings the enduring and everlasting way of truth.
This truth is the path through which man shall gain life,
and the only path by which man shall know God and be approved by God.”
from The Word Appears in the Flesh
Don’t move! Police!
Damn you! This time you’ll be put away for eight or ten years. We’ll then see if you still believe in God!
One day I may be captured and persecuted by the CCP,
this suffering is for the sake of righteousness, which I know in my heart.
If my life is gone like a spark in the blink of an eye,
I will still proudly say that I have accepted Christ of the last days.
If I cannot see the great event of the expansion of the kingdom gospel,
I will still offer up the most beautiful wishes.
If I cannot see the day the kingdom is realized,
but I can shame Satan today, then my heart will be filled with joy and peace.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
If I become a martyr, and can no longer bear testimony for God,
the kingdom gospel will still be spread like fire by countless believers.
Though I do not know how far I can walk this rugged road,
I will still offer up my God-loving heart.
Bearing testimony to His work of the last days, carrying out His will on earth,
it is our honor to dedicate ourselves to spreading the truth.
Undaunted by adversity, like pure gold made in the furnace,
from out of Satan’s influence emerge a group of victorious soldiers.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
God’s words spread all across the world, the light has appeared among man.
Christ’s kingdom arises and is established within adversity.
The darkness is about to pass, a righteous dawn has come.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
Time and reality have borne testimony for God.
from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs
European Parliament Concern Over Asylum for Persecuted Christians From The Church of Almighty God （Eastern Lightning）
www.holyspiritspeaks.org/news/asylum-for-persecuted-chris...
China’s deteriorating freedom of religious belief has long been a focus of the international community, which has repeatedly condemned the Chinese Communist government. The suppression and persecution of religious belief by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued to escalate since Xi Jinping took power. On June 27, a conference entitled Freedom of Religion or Belief and The Right to Asylum: The Case of China was held at the European Parliament in Brussels. During the conference, it was reported that freedom of religious belief in China has reached its worst level since the Cultural Revolution. At least 1.5 million people—including Xinjiang Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants, and Christians from The Church of Almighty God (CAG)—have been arrested and sent to prison or re-education camps for no reason other than their faith. The conference also pointed out that the CCP’s systematic persecution suffered by The Church of Almighty God Christians has been especially severe. These Christians have been arbitrarily detained, tortured, and imprisoned; some have even died or been left disabled as a result of their mistreatment. Participants in the conference called on the international community to urge the Chinese Communist government to respect freedom of religious belief, stop persecuting people of faith, and take note of the issue of asylum for Christians from The Church of Almighty God. （Christian Testimonies）
Terms of Use en.godfootsteps.org/disclaimer.html