Diana R., who claims to be possessed by spirits, cries during a ritual of exorcism performed by Hermes Cifuentes in Colombia.

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Diana R., who claims to be possessed by spirits, cries during a ritual of exorcism performed by Hermes Cifuentes in La Cumbre, Colombia, 28 May 2012. Exorcism is an ancient religious practice of evicting spirits, generally called demons or evil. Although the formal catholic rite of exorcism is rarely seen and must be only conducted by a designated priest, there are many pastors and preachers in Latin America performing exorcism ceremonies. The 52-year-old Brother Hermes, as the exorcist calls himself, claims to have been carrying out the healing rituals for more than 20 years. Using fire, dirt, candles, flowers, eggs and other natural-based items, in conjunction with Christian religous formulas, he attempts to drive the supposed evil spirit out of a victim's mind and body.

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Size: 5316px × 3544px
Location: La Cumbre, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Photo credit: © Jan Sochor / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: christian, church, colombia, cross, cry, deliverance, demon, desperate, devil, dirt, emotion, evil, exorcism, faith, flowers, girl, healing, liberation, mud, pain, possessed, possession, prayer, religion, religious, rite, ritual, satan, spiritual, stress, supernatural, witchcraft, wooden