Praying behind the walls

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The procession celebrating the feast day of the convent's founders St Placidus and St Sigisbert Giorgio von Arb

Inside the abbey Giorgio von Arb

Divine office Giorgio von Arb

Guerino Monn, kitchen hand (left), Father Jean-Marie Frey Giorgio von Arb

Younger members of the congregation spend a week away in Maria-Rickenbach, canton Nidwalden Giorgio von Arb

Father Bruno Rieder keeps an eye on students during an exam at the convent school Girogio von Arb

Choir practice Giorgio von Arb

Father Theo Theiler, biology teacher Giorgio von Arb

Father Pirmin Gnädinger, maths teacher Giorgio von Arb

Breakfast in the refectory Giorgio von Arb

Brother Lukas Heim (left), Father Bruno Rieder and Brother Luci Cavegn Giorgio von Arb

Convent elders Giorgio von Arb

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The Disentis convent in Surselva, canton Graubünden, is the oldest Benedictine abbey in Switzerland. Founded in the eighth century, it is home today to 29 monks and the focus of a new publication.

Photographer Giorgio von Arb and journalist Erwin Koch observed the religious community to provide a complete and faithful portrait in “Ein Buch über die Welt” (“A book about the world”) that documents life within the monastery.

(Pictures: Giorgio von Arb)