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The Sistine Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings on earth — but there's a lot you probably don't know about it. In this tour-de-force talk, art historian Elizabeth Lev guides us across the famous building's ceiling and Michelangelo's vital depiction of traditional stories, showing how the painter reached beyond the religious iconography of the time to chart new artistic waters. Five hundred years after the artist painted it,...Read More

A heartfelt conversation with Harvest's founder Philip Ryall: "I had a powerful encounter of God as a young teenager where the scriptures were opened up to me in a fresh way at a Christian horse-riding camp."Read More

“We could feel our hearts pounding like we could feel the closeness of Heaven,” says Eugene. Hours later, he wakes at dawn to capture an early-morning photo of the day’s first rays bouncing off the stone and steeples. “The location of our accommodation in so many of the cities we visited was literally at the doorstep of the churches or shrines,” he explains. “Everything was walking distance away. So to...Read More

Inside a small, unassuming chapel on Rue de la Visitation in Paray-le-Monial about 20 wooden pews face a simple stone altar and a colourfully painted mural depicting the Apparition of Christ to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Sitting on one of these pews, Irma De Guzman discovers a profound connection between this French town and her home in Melbourne, Australia.Read More

Even those who aren’t familiar with St Paul’s mission establishing the early Church will know at least some of his writings. Whether it’s the passages about uncompromising love in his letter to the Corinthians, or his encouragement to pray without ceasing in his letter to the Thessalonians, St Paul’s epistles are often quoted and shared – thousands of years after they were first written and read.Read More

The road ascending Mount Tabor, is characterised by the hairpin turns that make for a thrilling taxi ride. But as you catch your breath at the summit, you’re struck with spectacular views of the Holy Land. Just as the disciples did when they witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, you feel the desire to stay and soak in all that your senses will allow, as you stand in yet another place...Read More

Surrounded by greenery and generous shade, Helen Dingle closed her eyes to listen to the sound of water from the Zygaktis river cascading under her feet, the sound of the narrow stream magnified around the rocks where Fr Peter was setting up Mass on a simple stone table. Here in Philippi, Helen sat with her journal, putting into words the overwhelming feeling in her heart: “I’m at peace at last.”Read More

The grand, spacious Upper walls of the Basilica of St Francis, Assisi, contain intricate frescoes that narrate the entire history of Christianity. In the Lower Basilica, a large rose window illuminates the interior’s numerous side chapels and vestibules. But it’s the third level — simple, dark and underdone — that holds the most valuable treasure. Read More