a car driving on the "Blue Ridge Mountains", a famous scenic road through North carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. North Carolina, United states of America, 23/05/2019.Photograph by Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.Une voiture roule sur la "Blue Ridge Parkway", une route panoramique celebre qui traverse la Caroline du Nord, la Virginie et le Tennessee. Caroline du Nord, United states of America, 23/05/2019.Photographie de Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.a stuffed deer in a red car.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.A rattlesnake molt in the hand of pastor Jimmy.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Marylou and Ariel, two friends who grew up in this small mountain valley of the Appalachians, take a smoke break after the Chris's church service.They come to his masses every Sunday.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.A red car parked in the main street of an almost abandoned town in Western Virginia in the heart of a small Appalachian valley.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Old Pastor Jimmy, who is a mentor to many pastors, goes into the forest to hunt rattlesnakes. Tennessee, USA, June 2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.A statue of Jesus throne in the garden of a small Appalachian house.Western Virginia, USA, may 2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Jimmy, pastor and snake handler for more than a quarter of a century, is a true Appalachian and a mentor for all the snake handlers. He sits in his workshop where he paints naive religious frescoes.Tennessee, United states of America, 03/06/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Jimmy, a pastor and snake handler, is crouching at the entrance of the shed where he has built a large terrarium to keep the snakes that he hunts in the Appalachian forests and that he will take out during religious services in his chapel. Tennessee, USA, June 2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Just after the storm, a mist cross forms over a mountainside covered with forest. Western Virginia, United states of America.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.A rattlesnake slides on the altar of Pastor Chris' chapel during the religious service.Western Virginia, USA, May 2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Chris lays hands on those in need of healing or prayer, here a young boy. Chris says that by laying hands on parishioners they can heal (as it is written in Mark 16). Many members of the congregation claim to have been healed of other addictions such as alcoholism as well as diseases such as lupus and heart problems.Western Virginia, USA, May 2019.

Verlin drove 3 hours from Kentucky to attend Chris' mass in honour of his brother Mack who died 7 years earlier, the same day, from a snake bite during a mass. Verlin when he handles this huge rattlesnake seems to be somewhere else. He will explain to me that his mind, his soul is elsewhere, like the mist. Western Virginia, USA, May 2019. Photograph by Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.Verlin a conduit 3 heures depuis le Kentucky pour assister a la messe de Chris en l'honneur de son frere Mack, mort 7 ans plus tot, le meme jour, des suites d'une morsure de serpent lors d'une messe. Verlin, lorsqu'il manipule cet enorme serpent à sonnette, semble etre ailleurs. Il m'expliquera que son esprit, son ame est ailleurs, comme la brume...Virginie occidentale, USA.Mai, 2019. Photographie de Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas. western virginia, United states of America, 26/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.a car on a mountain road in the Appalachian Mountains just after a strong thunderstorm. Western Virginia, United states of America, 31/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Ariel and her boyfriend Deon in the pews of Chris' church during the service. Chris' church is a Pentecostal church. Deon is a Baptist, but he likes to come with Ariel because he is very impressed with the sight of the snake handling. He confesses that many of his friends make fun of those who handle snakes, but he doesn't because he believes that everyone has the right to pray as they wish.western virginia, United states of America, 02/06/2019.

A Marines veteran sits in a wheelchair in front of a truck with this sign on it "TRUMP 2020". Western Virginia, USA, may 2029. Photograph by Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.Un veteran des Marines est assis dans un fauteuil rouland devant une camionnette flanquee d'une affiche "TRUMP 2020 " Virginie occidentale, USA.Mai, 2019. Photographie de Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Kids playing on the banks of a river flowing through a deep forest in North Carolina.United states of America

THE SNAKE CHURCH.a cobra in a terrarium in the basement under Chris's church.In the background a portrait of Jesus in painting. western virginia, United states of America, 25/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Steve has just been bitten in front of the church by a non-venomous snake. The bite is unpleasant but not serious. parishioners are often fascinated by snakes and come to church with their own snake. western virginia, United states of America,

THE SNAKE CHURCH.During the church service in honor of his brother Mack, at the most intense moment, as he preaches shouting into his microphone, Chris throws the rattlesnake to the ground and starts walking on it in his socks. At that moment, the snake whistles very loudly. When Chris steps on the snake, it is to show God's superiority over evil.. western virginia, United states of America, 26/05/2019.

parishioners during Pastor Chris' service.Mc Dowell County,United states of America,25/05/2019.Photographs by Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.Des paroissiens durant le service du pasteur Chris.Mc Dowell County,United states of America,25/05/2019.Photographie de Cyril Abad / Hans Lucas.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.During the church service, some parishioners, stimulated by the country music played louder and louder by the musicians, start dancing and seem to go into a trance. Western Virginia, United states of America, 25/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Pastor Chris' mother in a trance immured herself with a molotov cocktail during the church service. A few minutes later she handles a snake.. Western Virginia, United states of America, 19/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.a man passes the mower in front of a mobile home. in the foreground a boy throws pebbles into a puddle. western virginia, United states of America, 06/06/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Somewhere in the Appalachians.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Underneath the church is a small basement where more than 50 deadly snakes are kept in terrariums. Pastor Byron, who serves with Chris, brings up from the basement a very large wood rattlesnake chosen for the ceremony commemorating the death of Chris' brother. Western Virginia, United states of America, 25/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Marylou, parishioner of the Chris’church sings and cryes during her testimony. Western Virginia, United states of America, 19/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.When the holy spirit comes down upon him, Chris is no longer afraid of the snake. As he manipulates it, he dances, jumps, and screams. He feels something indescribable that he calls perfect love.. western virginia, United states of America, 26/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.7 years to the day after the death of his brother bitten by a snake during a church service, Chris is bitten in turn by the snake after it has circulated from hand to hand. He refuses to go to the hospital for treatment because he literally respects the words of the Gospel of Mark 16.All the parishioners in trance and in tears then lay their hands on Chris imploring divine mercy. Finally Chris agrees to go to the hospital where he will be saved in extremis. Western Virginia, United states of America, 26/05/2019.

THE SNAKE CHURCH.Chris, although bitten, refuses to be taken to the hospital. For more than 30 minutes his condition will deteriorate, his blood will clot, his kidneys will stop and he will suffer from an extreme sensation of heat. The parishioners surround him by praying, laying their hands on him and crying. The small group of pastors and friends, Byron, David, Verlin and Glen are around him praying. David turns on a fan to relieve Chris of the heat. After 30 minutes, Chris will finally blow in Byron's ear, and he agrees to go to the hospital.He will survive. But by choosing life, he also takes the risk of losing the trust of his parishioners because he did not follow the divine word that promised him salvation.