May 13

During a life-threatening illness on May 13, 1373, Julian of Norwich received a series of mystical visions of Jesus Christ that profoundly shaped her spiritual outlook. These revelations offered insights into divine love, compassion, and the nature of sin and redemption. After recovering, she spent years reflecting on these experiences and writing them down. The resulting work, Revelations of Divine Love, became one of the earliest known English books by a woman. Julian’s theology emphasized God’s unconditional love and mercy, influencing Christian spirituality for centuries.

On May 13, 1945, Ogonyok magazine published Yevgeny Khaldei's legendary photograph Raising a Flag over the Reichstag. Taken days earlier during the Battle of Berlin, the image shows Soviet soldiers hoisting the red banner atop the partially destroyed Reichstag building. The photograph symbolized the end of the Nazi regime and the Soviet triumph in the war's climactic battle. Khaldei enhanced the scene by adding elements like extra smoke to heighten its dramatic impact. The publication propelled the image to worldwide fame, making it one of the most enduring photographs of World War II. It became an emblem of victory and resilience, reproduced in countless textbooks and exhibitions.