Religion Topicals

Happy Birthday to Saint John of God, O.H. (1495-1550), a Portuguese-born soldier turned health-care worker in Spain, whose followers later formed the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, a worldwide Roman Catholic religious institute dedicated to the care of the poor sick and those suffering from mental disorders. Here is an image of a stamp designed after a detail from a painting by Spanish artist Manuel Gómez-Moreno González (1834-1918) entitled "Saint John of God saving patients at the Hospital Real fire" (1880), engraved by José Luis López Sánchez Toda (1902-1975), and issued by Spain on March 8, 1950 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the saint's death, plus an image of the original masterpiece.

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The Great Mosque of Tlemcen, Algeria, was first built in 1082, and substantially reconstructed and enlarged in 1136. It is one of the best preserved examples of Almoravid architecture. Here is an image of a stamp depicting the Great Mosque of Tlemcen, designed and engraved by French artist Jean Pheulpin (1907-1991), and issued by Algeria on November 1, 1962, Scott No. 293, plus an image of a photo of the mosque.

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Here are images of the three similar stamps in a set depicting Saints Cyril and Methodius, designed and engraved by Bohumil Heinz (1894-1940), and issued by Czechoslovakia on June 22, 1935 to commemorate the millennial anniversary of the arrival in Moravia of the Apostles to the Slavs, Scott Nos. 209-11.

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Hans Poulsen Egede (1686-1758) was a successful Danish-Norwegian Lutheran missionary among the Inuit in Greenland, which led him to be styled "the Apostle of Greenland." Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Egede, and depicting an angel blowing a horn and an antique map of the North Atlantic region, designed and engraved by Knut Løkke-Sørensen (1931- ), and issued by Norway on October 17, 1986 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the missionary's birth, Scott No. 896, Facit No. 991, plus an image of a detail from a portrait (c. 1745) of Hans Egede by Swedish-Danish painter Johan Hörner (1711-1763) which was probably a model for this stamp's design.

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Idols of Polynesian gods, designed by French artist André Herviault (1884-1969), die engraved by Henry Cheffer (1880-1957), printed by photogravure, and issued for use in French Polynesia on June 5, 1939, Scott No. 116.

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Here is an image of a stamp depicting Blessed Rainier (aka Raynerius Inclusus, ?-1237), a hermit who lived in cell near the Cathedral of Osnabrück, Germany for 22 years wearing a coat of mail and heavy chains next to his skin, praying and counseling those who sought his spiritual guidance, designed and engraved by French artist Raoul Serres (1881-1971), and issued by Monaco on June 7, 1955 as one of a set of three stamps commemorating the Marian Year, Scott No. 352.

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The Dhamek Stupa and the Sanchi Stupa - Buddhist places of reverence in India - both containing relics of Buddha

Here are images of the four stamps in a set depicting Slovak Orthodox Church icons, designed by Bedrich Housa (1926- ), engraved and printed on cream paper, and issued by Czechoslovakia on December 17, 1970, Scott Nos. 1722-25.

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Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, 16th century, engraved by Josef Hercík.


Mandylion (Image of Edessa), the face of Christ on the Veil of Veronica, 16th century, engraved by Ladislav Jirka.


Saint George slaying the Dragon, 18th century, engraved by Jindra Schmidt.


Saint Michael, Archangel, 18th century, engraved by Bedrich Housa.

According to Christian tradition, Saint Vitus (c. 290-303) was a Christian from Sicily who died as a martyr (at age 12 or 13) during the persecution of Christians by co-ruling Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Vitus is considered the patron saint of actors, comedians, dancers, and epileptics. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a bust (1486) of Saint Vitus in Prague Castle, engraved by Jindra Schmidt (1897-1984), and issued by Czechoslovakia on May 7, 1970, Scott No. 1689, plus an image of a painting (c. 1450) by an unknown German artist of the martyrdom of Saint Vitus.

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Radha Krishna are collectively known within Hinduism as the combination of both the feminine as well as the masculine aspects of God. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Krishna playing a flute, and his consort, Radha, printed by photogravure, and issued by Nepal on September 7, 1966 to commemorate Krishnastami 2023, the birthday of Krishna, Scott No. 195, plus another image of Radha Krishna, the Divine Lovers.

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Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Frans de Troyer (1914-1977), a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and a noted philatelist who is considered the "patron of thematic (topical) stamp collecting," designed and combined engraved by Paul Huybrechts (1951- ) and photogravure, and issued by Belgium on April 10, 1995 for Stamp Day, Scott No. 1580.

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Here is an image of a stamp designed by Austrian artist Auguste Böcskör after a red sandstone slab from the tomb of Peter of Aspelt (c. 1245-1320), the influential Archbishop of Mainz from 1306 to 1320, engraved by Alfred Fischer (1926- ), and issued by Luxembourg on May 18, 1978 as a EUROPA stamp, Scott No. 610, plus an image of the original slab in Mainz Cathedral. From the left: John the Blind, his father Henry VII, Peter of Aspelt, and Louis the Bavarian.

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Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705) was a German Christian theologian known as the "Father of Pietism." Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Spener, designed by Günter Jacki (1936- ), printed by lithography, and issued by Germany on January 10, 1985 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the theologian's birth, Scott No. 1433, Michel No. 1235, plus an image of the original portrait of Philipp Jakob Spener which was probably the model for this stamp's design.

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Blessed Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero (1840-1914), affectionately known as "the Gaucho priest" and the "cowboy priest," was a Roman Catholic Argentinian priest who suffered leprosy throughout his life, and is known for his extensive work with the poor and the sick. Brochero was beatified in 2013 after a healing was recognized as a miracle attributed to him; a second miracle was approved in 2016, and he shall be canonized on October 16, 2016. Here is an image of a stamp designed after a bust of Father Brochero by Argentine sculptor José Cuello, printed by photogravure, and issued by Argentina on May 9, 1954 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death, Scott no. 761, plus an image of Cuello's original work of art.

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Issued in june 2016, 1 of the 20 that were issued.