AFP

AFP Video - Religion & Belief

Russian youth learn ancient craft of painting iconsPlay

Russian youth learn ancient craft of painting icons

AFP - Sat Nov 21, 5:34 AM ET

Sergiev Posad is one of the most beautiful Orthodox monasteries in the Moscow region, and also the site of a special kind of school. Every year, nearly 60 students meticulously learn to paint religious icons, retracing the same brushstrokes of masters from centuries ago. Duration: 01:50.

  • Hajj pilgrimage from your armchair Play
    Hajj pilgrimage from your armchair AFP - Mon Nov 2, 10:39 AM ET

    The annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca begins later this month. It's a must for Muslims around the world and as many as two million people are expected at the holy site in Saudi Arabia. But for those who don't have the time or money to make it this year, how about a virtual trip to hajj? An Egypt-based website is becoming increasingly popular. Duration: 01:41

  • Scientologists convicted of fraud in France Play
    Scientologists convicted of fraud in France AFP - Tue Oct 27, 12:18 PM ET

    French judges fined the Church of Scientology almost a million dollars on Tuesday for defrauding vulnerable followers but stopped short of banning the group from operating in France. Scientology's Celebrity Centre and its bookshop in Paris, the two branches of its French operations, were ordered to pay 600,000 euros (900,000 dollars) in fines for preying financially on its followers in the 1990s. Alain Rosenberg, the movement's director, was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined 30,000 euros o