Story By: Sergiu Nazaru, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Devotees in a Russian church reportedly shouted “miracle” when two paintings of the Virgin Mary and archangel Gabriel were removed for renovations, only to reveal white ghostly shapes left behind on the walls.
The incident took place at the Church of Saint Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Voronezh in the western Russian region of Voronezh Oblast during renovations.
According to news site Komsomolskaya Pravda, several devotees were in the church at the time of the paintings’ removal from the walls.
Their initial whispers turned to shouts of “miracle” when they saw white ghostly shapes left behind on the sooty walls.
Worshippers then started taking photos of the wall marks with their phones.
However, Father Alexandr denied that there had been a miracle his church, adding that the marks were caused by candles dirtying the walls with soot.
He told Komsomolskaya Pravda: “The walls in this church have been covered in soot from the candles for about two years.
“I’m sure physicists could explain the phenomenon in some way. Perhaps the shapes were caused by temperature differences under the paintings?”
Father Alexandr added: “People will always look out for miracles. They do indeed happen. A miracle is what changes someone morally and spiritually.”
The church spruce-up is nearly halfway through and most of the walls have since been repainted, erasing all traces of the alleged ‘miracle’.
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