Local artisans in the Holy Land have spent several generations honing their skills and creating wondrous works of art from the branches of native olive trees.
Sales from the Holy Land work to reduce poverty and unemployment among Palestinian artisans affected by the separation wall between Israel and the West Bank. Your purchase is essential to making raw materials affordable, and developing artisan skills and international markets for their products.
For generations, artisans in the Bethlehem area have crafted items for Christian pilgrims visiting holy sites in the West Bank and Israel, areas once filled with family workshops crafting olive wood and mother-of-pearl carvings. Challenges brought about by about by occupation, political unrest, and the resulting decline in tourism began to take its toll in the 1970s, and both unemployment and limited resources had a dramatic effect on Palestinian artisans. Artisans work in the occupied territories on the West Bank of the Jordan River, with cooperatives located in the cities of Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, and Bethlehem.
Crown Of Thorns: Life size for Passion Plays (11-12 inches in diameter) This authentic Crown Of Thorns is used for Passion Plays or as a centerpiece for your Church, or your home during Lent. The crown of thorns is a symbolic reminder of the suffering Jesus endured to redeem his people. A constant reminder of the promises Christ made to Christians around the world. This authentic replica of the crown of thorns has been known to the region of many years. Its scientific name is Euphorbia Milli. This thick steamed plant grows admits the desert of Jericho and by the Dead Sea, 30 Miles from Jerusalem. This Beautiful ornamental plant which have densely thorns is said to have been used by Roman Legionaries to mock Christ at his Crucifixion. This item comes in a craft box with a certificate of origin. Crown dimensions approximately 11-12 inches in diameter (real life size).