The Empty Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany

The Empty Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany

Bethany: Today, the village of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary is called el-‘Ezariyyeh—the village of ‘Azar in Arabic, Eleazar in Hebrew, that is, of Lazarus. Of the three siblings, however, Lazarus is the most reserved. The Gospels do not record any conversation between...
Absalom! Absalom!

Absalom! Absalom!

William Faulkner borrowed the title of his famous novel from King David’s cry of distress when he learned of the death of his rebellious son Absalom. For several centuries, the collective memory of this biblical passage has crystallized around a funerary...
The Tower of the Flock or Shepherds’ field

The Tower of the Flock or Shepherds’ field

Whoever visits Bethlehem on a modern pilgrimage almost always begins the itinerary with a quick stop at the “Shepherds ‘field.” It is located in the municipality of Beit Sahur, southeast of Bethlehem. The holy site is under the care of the Franciscan Custody of...