Blogs

What Is a Rosary? A Complete Guide to the Beads, Prayers, and Mysteries
A rosary is a string of prayer beads used to count prayers while meditating on the life of Christ. Learn the parts, the prayers, the mysteries, and why olive wood rosaries from Bethlehem are so meaningful. Read more...
What Is the Crown of Thorns? Meaning, History, and Faith
The crown of thorns was placed on Jesus before his crucifixion as mockery and became a powerful symbol of his suffering and love. Learn its meaning, its place in the Bible, and the olive wood carvings that honor it. Read more...
The Difference Between a Cross and a Crucifix
A cross is the bare shape of two beams, one upright and one across, with nothing on it. A crucifix is a cross that bears the figure of the body of Christ, called the corpus. So every crucifix is a cross, but not every cross is a crucifix. The plain cross points to the Resurrection and the empty tomb, while the crucifix keeps our eyes on the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. That single difference, the presence or absence of the corpus, is the whole answer. That is the short... Read more...
What Does INRI Mean on a Crucifix?
INRI is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, which means "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The letters come from the sign that Pontius Pilate ordered placed above Jesus on the cross, recorded in the Gospel of John 19:19. On a crucifix you see INRI carved or printed on a small panel at the top, above the figure of Christ, to mark the charge written over him at his crucifixion. That sign was written in three languages, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that everyone who... Read more...
What Wood Was the Cross Made Of?
The Bible does not name the specific wood of the cross. Scripture calls it a cross and also a tree, but it never tells us the species. Longstanding Christian tradition holds that the cross was made from one or more of the trees of the Holy Land, most often named as cypress, cedar, pine, or olive. Of these, olive was the wood most common in the hills around Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which is why olive wood became the wood most associated with the land of the Gospel. That is the... Read more...
How Many Beads Are on a Rosary?
A standard five decade rosary has fifty nine beads. Fifty of them are Hail Mary beads, arranged in five decades of ten. The remaining nine are the Our Father beads that begin each decade and the opening prayers, the set of three beads near the crucifix, and the single bead just above the crucifix. Above the loop sits a centerpiece medal, and below the tail hangs the crucifix itself. Together these fifty nine beads carry one full rosary of fifty three Hail Marys and six Our Fathers. That is the... Read more...
Rosary Beads Meaning: What Each Bead Represents
Rosary beads mean prayer made visible. Each bead stands for a single prayer you say as it passes through your fingers, so the string keeps count while your mind rests on the life of Christ. A standard rosary has fifty nine beads. The ten small beads of each decade carry a Hail Mary, the single beads carry an Our Father, the crucifix begins the prayer, and the centerpiece joins the loop to the tail. Together the beads turn meditation into a rhythm you can hold in your hand. The rosary... Read more...
How to Pray the Rosary: A Step by Step Guide for Beginners
To pray the rosary, hold the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles' Creed. Move to the first bead for the Our Father, pray a Hail Mary on each of the next three beads, and a Glory Be. Then pray five decades. Each decade is one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be, while you meditate on a Mystery from the life of Christ. Close with the Hail Holy Queen and the Sign of the Cross. A full rosary takes about twenty minutes... Read more...
Christmas Celebrations
Pre Pandemic Christmas Celebrations in Bethlehem, A Look Back
At the break of day on a cold rainless Christmassy morning, the people of Bethlehem city in the Holy Land woke up to the sound of the Scouts preparing to... Read more...
Virtual Gallery of Holy Land Olive Wood Carvings
Browse our complete catalog of hand carved olive wood Christian carvings, statues, rosaries, and gifts , every piece is made in Bethlehem by Christian families in the Holy Land. Your purchase directly supports their livelihoods and helps preserve the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Read more...
Protecting Our Families: How Living in the Image of St. Joseph Makes Better Men and Fathers
Protecting Our Families: How Living in the Image of St. Joseph Makes Better Men and Fathers
Protecting Our Families: How Living in the Image of St. Joseph Makes Better Men, Husbands and Fathers Here, we are taking a look at just how much influence Saint Joesph,... Read more...
Mother Mary, A Woman of Aspiration and Faith
Mother Mary, A Woman of Aspiration and Faith
It is no secret that Mary loved her baby Jesus more than anyone, and we see many instances where Mary shows her skill as a mother and mentor to Jesus... Read more...