Introduction
Introduction
"Isn't this the carpenter's son?" Matthew 13:55
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary." Mark 6:3
O' Little Town of Bethlehem, well known as a place for
artists and spiritual power, is the city of Jesus birth and the cradle of peace.
Throughout the years, The Church in the Holy Land used art
to teach the word of Jesus to people. Art became the peoples' Bible.
The olive wood handicraft art began in Bethlehem in the
fourth century following the creation of the Church of the Nativity, which was
built on the traditional birthplace of Jesus. At the time, Monks taught the
handicraft trade to the local Christian residents and the olive wood carving
process. This processes was then passed from one generation to another and was
perfected and mastered; thus continuing the ancient tradition of beautiful and
exquisite olivewood carvings in the Holy Land.
It is said that when Jesus worked as a carpenter he carved
olive wood.
The Bethlehem Carving Group artists combine the experience
and skills of the old traditions with the innovation and creativity of the new
generation. We are the new generation of dedicated artists who continue to
spread the same timeless message of our Jesus and his teachings through our art.
With humbleness, we are considered among the most skilled carvers in the world
and many of our carvings find their way to museums and homes of faith around the
world; and now to your home!
The Olive Wood Tree
The Olive Tree is called the Sacred Tree because it
symbolizes the Holy Land. It is also called The Peace Tree, Clock of Ages,
The Tree of Light, and Tree of Legends. The olive tree represents the Holy
Land in all religions. "The olive tree stands as a perfect personification of
man's historical memory in the Holy Land. It is the tree with the highest
endurance and fruitful capacity. It is the sign of peace between God and
mankind."
The olive tree is so special to our world because it is
directly connected to our Christian faith as Jesus prayed under an olive tree on
his way to Jerusalem before his crucifixion. He was crucified on an olive wood
crucifix made from the olive trees near the garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ was arrested on The Mount of Olives. He
ascended into Heaven from there after His Resurrection from the tomb. The
greatest event of all history occurred on The Mount Of Olives.
All the olive wood figurines and arts that is produced are
hand carved from the trimmings of the olive trees in the Holy Land, which is an
essential process for a healthier growth for those trees, which also generate
environmental stability. No tree is damaged or destroyed in the process.
"His branches shall spread, and His beauty shall be as the
olive tree"...(Hosea 14:6)
"Out of the ground, the Lord God made to grow every tree
that is pleasant for the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the
midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis
2:9.
The olive tree is native to the Holy Land where it has been
cultivated since ancient times. According to historians, the first olive groves
took root in the Holy Land and along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean
around 4,000 B.C.
The Bible contains many references to the culinary and
religious uses of olives and olive oil. In the Book of Genesis the dove sent out
from the Noah’s Ark returned with an olive branch (Genesis 8:11). It became the
great symbol of peace, indicating the end of God’s anger. And its recognition by
Noah suggests that it was already a well-known tree.
The Olive Tree Farmers
"The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a
share of the crops." Timothy 2:6
Every year the farmers of the Holy Land pick the olives in
the middle of October. During the same season, they prune some of the branches.
The pruning also allows sunrays to hit the heart of the
tree and the foliage inside.
The pruning of olive trees must be done with hand saw and
not an electrical tool because the smoke that comes from the diesel or gas saws
affects the taste of olives, the olive oil, and even weakens the tree!
The Olive wood
"The Wood is from the tree of life, those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed." Proverbs 3:18
Bethlehem olive wood is heavy, dense, and durable with a
distinctive red pigment in its grain. All carvings made of this hard wood have a
varying and smooth grain, making every piece extraordinarily unique. It is very
difficult to match the grain of two pieces since the pattern is completely
hidden in the heart of the wood
After the olive tree is trimmed, the branches are kept to
dry for a few years inside Bethlehem caves. Caves are ideal to dry the olive
wood because the temperatures of the cave stays the same all year round and
there is no moisture or humidity so the wood dries without splitting or cracking
and becomes dry and ideal for carving.
You can estimate the age of a particular piece by examining
its grain. Very old trees have a dark grain while younger trees exhibit a
lighter color.
The dark grains inside the trunk of the olive wood are
called the heart of the wood or the jewels and they are highly prized by olive
wood carvers and customers for their timeless beauty.
Once carved, the wood is sanded and coated with a special
varnish to protect it and highlight the texture of the grain. There is no need
for oiling or further treatment of any kind since olive oil inside the wood is
naturally protecting the wood from corrosions. Since olive is one of the hardest
woods on earth, carvings will easily last a life time and be admired by
generations to come. As it ages, it will become darker and even more beautiful.
Olive Wood Carvers in Bethlehem Today
"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of
God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever", Psalm 52:8
The handicrafts trade evolved as a cultural tradition of
Christians in the Holy Land for centuries. This indigenous form of art has since
become an industry of great importance to the local people of the Holy Land who
rely on it for livelihood, and to Christian pilgrims from all around the world
whose holy pilgrimage can be memorialized for a lifetime in cherished olive wood
or mother-of-pearl souvenirs. The olive wood carving market is the major source
of income in the Bethlehem area. More than 60 percent of the income of the
community in Bethlehem comes from this work.
In recent years, however, the holy crafts trade has
suffered many hardships due to social, economical, and political pressures.
Because of a sharp fall in tourism and the export market, and also as a result
of diminishing numbers of craftsmen who leave their traditional trade and
emigrate due to the difficult conditions in their homeland, the Holy Land
handicraft market is facing serious danger, and so is the Christian community in
the Land.
With the recent waves of violence in the Holy Land entering,
many hristians in the Bethlehem area have left the country. Many others are
considering the possibility of migrating soon. Our Olive Wood promotion program
of marketing their work to other communities outside the Holy Land is critical
to keeping them in their homeland.
The Christians who left the Holy Land are among the very
few Christian minorities remaining there. It was these Christians who helped
spread the word of Jesus to the world in the first place. For two thousand years,
it was these families who built and protected the Churches in the most holy
places of Christianity including the Church of the Nativity and the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher. Today, these families depend on marketing their products
to stay in the Holy Land, and it is our responsibility to help them do so.
By buying items listed on this site you will not only
receive a valuable piece of art from the Holy Land, but you will also help
supporting the presence of Christianity in the Land of Christ.
The Holy Land Olive Trees Today
Since the days of Noah, the olive branch has been a symbol
of peace and goodwill. Unfortunately, in recent years, the war in the Holy Land
has often led to the uprooting of olive tree orchards more than 50,000 olive
trees have been uprooted and destroyed, the sole source of income for many
farmers. The olive tree have traditionally symbolized the spirit of the Holy
Land farmers and their connection to the Holy land; a connection that remains
strong, despite years of war and political unrest.
The Spirit of the Olive Tree
From Farmer to Carver
"Out of the ground, the Lord God made to grow every tree
that is pleasant for the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the
midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis
2:9
We sincerely hope that you find this catalogue a pleasant,
enjoyable, and most of all inspirational and that our religious and spiritual
items will inspire your faith and offer you a journey of the spirit...and a
chance to draw closer to the place where Jesus was born. Proclaimed his message
of Love, Justice, and Peace on Earth.
Testimonial from an Artist
"Olive Tree to us symbolizes life. Since 2000 years ago,
St. Joseph was a carpenter and he used the Olive Tree. We also use the olive oil
for soap and food. There isn’t anything more beautiful and special for any
Christian than a hand carved ancient olive piece art hand made by the remaining
Christian community in the Holy Land.
We like to tell people that our ancestors drank tea with
the Apostles. We are the people who walked on the same streets as Jesus. We
celebrated His Birth 2000 years ago and we still do, but every year we loose
more of our community members because the political and economic unrest. There
are only 1.8% remaining Christians in the Holy Land. We are afraid that in 20
years the Christian community will only exist in museums.
Through the sales of our carvings, we bring hope again to
Bethlehem. We revive the lives of so many Christians who depend on this work.
And most of all, we keep Jesus present in our hearts.
God Bless You!"
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