Members of an Orthodox community take part in an Easter service at a church in the village of Poteryaevka, some 200 km (124 miles) southwest of the city of Barnaul in Russia's Altai region, on April 24, 2011. (Reuters/Andrei Kasprishin)

A view of an installation as part of the “S.A.C.R.E.D” exhibition by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei during the 55th La Biennale of Venice, in the church of Sant'Antonin in Venice May 28, 2013. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Clowns and entertainers gather to attend an annual service of remembrance in honour of British clown Joseph Grimaldi at All Saints Church in Haggerston in London, Britain, February 5, 2017. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

Spanish legionnaires sing an anthem as they carry a statue of the Christ of Mena outside a church during a ceremony before they take part in the “Mena” brotherhood procession in Malaga, southern Spain, March 24, 2016. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)

Italian pencil artist Marco Mazzoni‘s work goes far beyond technical perfection. His representation of historical healing women is enigmatic and sublime. Often leaving the eyes blank or covered with an abundance of birds, butterflies and flowers, he gives the impression of a deeper inward focused sight, as well as obscuring the identity of the individual. Many female healers in the past – both medicine woman and midwives – were brutally persecuted by religion, some even burnt as witches… Mazzoni’s work captures their deep connection with nature and their innate power and femininity with delicacy and beautiful detail.

Cemetery overcrowding is an issue that resonates around the world, particularly in its most cramped cities and among religions that forbid or discourage cremation. The reality of relying on finite land resources to cope with the endless stream of the dying has brought about creative solutions... (Photo by Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo)

A man carries a figurine of Santa Muerte or The Saint of Death during the first prayer of the New Year in Mexico City, Mexico January 1, 2017. Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte is a female deity of Mexican folk religion, venerated primarily in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. (Photo by Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

A pet owner holds his guinea pig named Riec as Father Francisco bestows a blessing on the pet rodent during a feast day Mass in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals, at the Saint Fernando church, in Mexico City, Saturday, January 17, 2015. Many people in Mexico bring their pets to churches to be blessed by the priest on this day. (Photo by Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)