A cross of olive wood
“A holding cross is designed not so much to look right as to feel right. The cross is deliberately uneven, in order to fit between your fingers more comfortably than a ‘correctly shaped’ cross would do. Because a holding cross is not decorated or ornamental, it is a harsh reminder of the wood of the cross of Jesus.” — Angela Ashwin
An unusual shaped cross, made of highly polished olive wood. It feels smooth to the touch, fits snugly in the hand.
The cross is made from wood from an olive tree, wood that has been dried for five years.
The cross is carved in the Holy Land, at a workshop in Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem. Packed for shipment in a house in the Old City of Jerusalem. Imported into the UK by Marie Wilkinson.
Because they are hand-carved no two crosses are alike. Each cross is unique.
Anything that helps Palestinians survive the brutality of Israeli occupation is to be welcome. Anyone who doubts that brutality should read ‘The Last Taboo’ in Freedom Next Time by John Pilger or Fateful Triangle by Noam Chomsky.
A few years ago I was with friends at the Beyond TV International Film Festival in Swansea. They had helped bring in the olive harvest in occupied Palestine. When not destroying the crop, Israelis make it nigh impossible to harvest. The olive oil they brought back was delicious. Whilst not carrying a Fair Trade logo it was ethically produced. Please encourage your local deli and other outlets to stock Palestinian Olive Oil as every little helps.
I came across this holding cross, as these types of cross are known, in Triangle, a Christian bookshop cum teashop.
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Tags: cross, fairtrade, holding cross, olive oil, olive wood, Palestine
Keithpp's Blog 
January 13, 2011 at 4:42 pm |
Hello,
The design and crosses made in Beit Sahour, made of Olive wood, have been made for some time and called a Hand cross or Palm cross. The specific name and design HoldingCross was created by our family over a decade ago in Texas. We purchase wood from a Christian family running the largest factory in Bethlehem and still employing Christians to work. We make The HoldingCross out of many woods and Olive is just one of them.
Over time, our branding and design for The HoldingCross has been copied and re-used by others even though our unique design and name is protected under US copyright law.
The work of our hands continue to minister to hundreds of thousands around the world and our crosses are being used in over 40 denominations and can be found in over 20 countries.
For a more comprehensive story and information please feel free to visit us at our website … HoldingCross.com
Blessings,
Jack & Carol Scott
September 29, 2012 at 9:09 pm |
Very sad and depressing someone tries to claim copyright on a cross. What next, a crown of thorns?
August 20, 2016 at 7:13 am |
Dear Mr./Mrs
We, Olivewoodwholesale, are olive wood wholesale manufacturers. We make olive wood arts from the Holy Land and ship it all over the world for free.
Please check our website http://www.olivewoodwholesale.com
feel free to contact us at info@olivewoodwholesale.com