Jonas Bendiksen’s photograph foregrounds a cross-shaped hole carved into a frozen expanse, its dark, frigid waters glowing deep blue against the surrounding snow. Around this sacred opening, a small group—adults and a child clad in bright red boots—stand solemnly, their reflections mirrored in the icy pool. At the center, a Russian Orthodox priest, draped in traditional vestments, raises his hands in blessing. His reflection, perfectly framed by the cross, becomes both the visual and spiritual focal point of the image.

Taken in Transdniester, Moldova, the image portrays a traditional Orthodox ritual performed in the harsh January cold. Rooted in faith and cultural heritage, Bendiksen’s photograph speaks to the region’s enduring religious identity and ethnic Russian roots. The stark interplay of warmth and austerity, the priest’s blessing, the child’s vivid presence, and the ghostly reflections in ice imbue the setting with solemn reverence and power.