PHOTOS: Famed church murals featuring social commentary revived by conservationists
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Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Art conservator Naomi Ruiz works on the face of Moses in a mural by Maxo Vanka inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery A mural by Croatian-American artist Maxo Vanka titled "Christ on the Battlefield" is seen inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery A 32-foot-high scaffold allows art conservation workers close up access to murals by Maxo Vanka on the ceiling in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church as part of an ongoing preservation project in Millvale, Pa., Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery After removal of a 32-foot-high scaffold, murals by Max Vanka depicting St. Mark, left, and St. Matthew, right, are revealed in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church after undergoing preservation efforts in Millvale, Pa., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church, home to murals by Maxo Vanka, sits next to the Allegheny River in Millvale, Pa., Feb 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery A mural by Croatian-American artist Maxo Vanka titled "Transcendent Vision (including Disciples)" is seen in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church after undergoing preservation efforts in Millvale, Pa., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Standing on a 32-foot-tall scaffold, conservation technician Celeste Parrendo works on touching up a mural by Maxo Vanka inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Artist Maxo Vanka works on a mural inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., on Nov. 7, 1941. (AP Photo/William C. Allen, File) (William C. Allen/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Art conservator Naomi Ruiz uses a cotton swab on a mural by Maxo Vanka that depicts the hand of God handing a tablet to Moses, inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Standing on a 32-foot-tall scaffold, art conservationist Kate Pirelli works on cleaning a mural by Max Vanka depicting a lion and St. Mark inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Art conservator Jessica Keister works on a mural by Maxo Vanka depicting the hand of God handing a tablet to Moses, inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery A mural by Croatian-American artist Maxo Vanka titled "Croatian Mother Raises Her Son for War" is displayed inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery A damaged portion of a mural by Maxo Vanka is seen in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., on Thursday, Jan 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Art conservator Naomi Ruiz looks at murals by Croatian-American artist Maxo Vanka in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Working on a 32-foot-tall scaffold, art conservator Kate Pirelli works on cleaning a mural by Max Vanka inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Famed Church Murals-Preservation-Photo Gallery Art conservation technician Christina Cichra works on touching up a lion, symbol of the Gospel of St. Mark, in a mural by Maxo Vanka inside St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pa., Feb 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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