Harrowing Photo of Nun Who Survived Italy Earthquake Goes Viral

A dramatic photo of a nun who survived the devastating Italian earthquakes this past week has gone viral.

Sister Marjana Lleshi, 35, had been sleeping in her room at the Don Minozzi convent in Amatrice when the she began feeling affects of the quake at 4:30 in the morning. A terrified Lleshi left her bed to find help, but became trapped under a collapsed door.

She described the harrowing experience, saying, “When I started losing all hope of being saved, I resigned myself to it and started sending messages to friends saying to pray for me and my soul.”

A local man, whom she refers to as her “angel” did eventually rescue her, telling her to sit on a chair to get her bearings after he pulled her from the rubble. Lleshi, scared of aftershocks, decided to sit on the ground instead, finding that it made her calmer. As the bloodied nun began texting friends and family that she had in fact survived, the photo was snapped.

The photo has gone viral worldwide, with many expressing amazement at the calm demeanor of Sister Lleshi amidst the carnage around her. She’s since returned home to mourn with the rest of her order, who lost three sisters and four elderly women they cared for.

Even after her ordeal, Lleshi is still holding strong to her faith, and his hoping to attend the canonization ceremony of her fellow Albanian Mother Theresa next month. However, she’s expressed doubt at her ability to attend thanks to the quake, saying, “For me, she’s the symbol of Albania, of a strong woman. I would have liked to go, but after this I don’t think I can.”