In a pilgrimage that is believed to bring healing, people from all religious backgrounds come to the shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Lac, northern Albania, named after a Catholic saint from the 13th century. Albania’s population is of mixed religious conviction, with Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians living side by side. For almost 50 years, religious beliefs were forbidden in Albania. No one was allowed to profess religion during Communism. No religious institutions were permitted. Albania was thus the first official atheist country in the world. That brief rule has now been reversed and crowds of all faiths flock to the fabled shrine each June 12 to worship this holy place.

A man is sleeping on the ground. He is one of the believers who came early a night before the auspicious date, and he prefers to sleep during the night here, only to stay closer to the place during the dark. By morning these sleepers continue to sleep, and are not much interested in what’s going around them. Sometime they are ill or sick with unexplained symptoms and they believe that thee only place where they can be healed is here in Shna Ndo.