This olive wood cross is made out of Bethlehem olive wood slats and beads, held together with brown cord to look like a rope ladder to Heaven. On each slat is a phrase of the Lord's Prayer. It is a perfect mediation aid or teaching tool.

The Lord's Prayer (also called the Pater Noster or Our Father prayer is a central prayer in Christianity that appears in the New Testament. The version here is from the Gospel of Matthew and it appears as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount. So important is the Lord's Prayer to Christians, that on Easter Day 2007, it was estimated that two billion Catholic, Anglican, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians read, recited, or sang the short prayer all over the world in hundreds of languages.

Please note that each one is unique, since no piece of olive wood is the same.

''The wood from the Tree of Life, those who grasp it will experience eternal Happiness...'' Proverbs 3:18

Dimensions of cross: 24 cm x 14 cm x 1.5 cm 5.5'' x 7 '' x .5''
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Background about Olive Wood

Olive trees are indigenous to the Holy Land and are treasured because the oil from their fruit has been used for religious rites since biblical times. The olive wood used in these beautiful products is of the highest quality and is distinctive for its dark lines. It comes only from olive wood trees that are grown in the area between Shechem and Hebron that are not irrigated. The olive tree is a protected species in Israel and cannot be cut down. Once every two years the olive trees are pruned so that they bear fruit and it is from these prunings that these handcrafted pieces are made. The prunings are stored for almost 5 years, before they are used by the craftsmen for these exquisite pieces.

Olive wood items make perfect gifts. Not only are they imbued with spirituality, they also do not require much care since olive oil is naturally protecting them from corrosion and changes of color.