"After he rose from the dead, his twelve disciples and seven women continued to be his followers, and went to Galilee onto the mountain called 'Divination and Joy'. When they gathered together and were perplexed about the underlying reality of the universe and the plan, [...] the Savior appeared - not in his previous form, but in the invisible spirit. And his likeness resembles a great angel of light. But his resemblance I must not describe. No mortal flesh could endure it, but only pure, perfect flesh, like that which he taught us about on the mountain called 'Of the Olives' in Galilee."

- Quoted from "The Sophia of Jesus Christ," a text of The Nag Hammadi Library -- a hoard of ancient manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945. Passage translated by Douglas M. Parrott.

- Image: detail from a study for The Transfiguration of Christ (1518-1520) by Raphael.

Read about Black Madonnas (or Virgins), at the University of Dayton website.

Ralph Metzner's article on the goddess is worth reading in this connection. Then visit the Visual Media Center at Columbia University and view a 360° panorama of the interior of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalen at Vézelay, France.