Holy Land Cooperative Brings Christian Crafts to U.S.

By Patricia Rudy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/27/02)

The escalating bloody violence sweeping through the Holy Land has curtailed the flow of religious pilgrims to the region. Many Christian craftsmen cannot leave because of current economic, political and social restrictions. Some artists have decided to bring Christian artifacts to pilgrims in the United States rather than wait for the pilgrims to come to them.

Two such dedicated individuals are Butros and Feras Qumseya, father and son, who are members of Holy Land Christians Cooperative Society. As both craftsmen and members of the society, they recently brought items hand-carved by Christian families in Bethlehem and Jerusalem to a show at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington. During the Saturday vigil Mass, Feras, a young man, spoke briefly to the congregation of the situation in his native country.

"Many families in the area of Bethlehem depend on tourism for most of their income," he said. "But because of the current political situation, tourists are no longer going there. For hundreds of years, these families have developed a tradition of hand-carving olive wood, passed on from generation to generation."

Due to the decline in tourism, "these families have suffered a great deal of hardship. So what we decided to do in order to support ourselves is to come to this country to display these carvings to our Christian brothers and sisters. And also to tell them about the story of the Christians in the Holy Land. Because when people hear of the Middle East, they tend to think of terrorism and other religions, and don’t consider as much that Jesus did come from that part of the world. Christians have been there for more than 2,000 years. We want peace — let us continue to pray for it — and we want to remain in our land."

Feras’ mother and his four younger siblings remain in Bethlehem.

The Holy Land handicrafts were displayed in the vestibule of St. Agnes Church following the recent Mass. There was a tremendous response from dozens of attendees as they surrounded the exhibit.

Olive wood objects included abstract religious art, angels, Biblical items, candle holders, Christmas ornaments, crosses and crucifixes, statues of Jesus, small and larger nativity scenes (the latter containing a music box which played "Silent Night"), rosaries, wooden boxes and other pieces. There were also mother-of-pearl creations.

Butros, Feras, and his friend, Rasha Barbar, were continually busy helping customers. After selling the artifacts, society members cover their expenses and then send the proceeds directly back to the Holy Land Cooperative families overseas.

Philomena Vea, a St. Agnes parishioner, purchased a large, light-colored wood crucifix for her son’s home. She said he had gotten married a few years ago and lives in Richmond. Another woman explained to her elementary-school-age son the Holy Land’s artisans circumstances and why she was making a purchase to assist them.

The cooperative’s Web site points out that over the past century, Christians populated more than 30 percent of the Holy Land. Currently, they are no more than 2 percent.

"At one time they were a majority and they are now a minority," said Feras. "Christians endured the most hardship because they lived under many different rules and some were forced to convert to other religions."

As one supporter said, "People in the Holy Land are losing their jobs and homes. Christians are being squeezed between the Muslims and the Jews."

Butros is a founding member of the Traditional Industries Association (union) in Palestine. In 1996 he began the effort to establish the union. The charter took two years and was formed in 1998. Butros was the association’s chairman the following year. He now represents the District of Bethlehem’s workshops, which include about 200 family operations.

"By 2000, the millennium year, 150 tourist buses visited Bethlehem every day," said Burtos. "We worked day and night" to keep up with the demand for religious artifacts. "When the violence started about 20 months ago, there were no longer any buses, no tourists. Some of our people emigrated."

They left the country, having closed their shops. Through the cooperative’s efforts, though, 70 percent were able to stay in service, he said.

"We are going to keep all of them open," said Burtros. He explained that many people from the union came to the United States to help their countrymen, such as bringing the artifacts to more than 20 malls over the Christmas season. Some members travel back and forth between America and Bethlehem every few months.

Feras, who currently lives in Northern Virginia, has been in the United States since 1997. He attended college in Wisconsin, where he began selling the Holy Land handicrafts.

"I was doing it on a less formal level, received a welcome and was successful," he said. Now he also has a full-time job in information technology and will be getting married next month.

Butros has been in this country since September 2001. He would like to return to the Holy Land, "but all the roads are blocked" for him to do so, Feras said. Butros will remain in this area until conditions in the Holy Land improve.

The two men have a local family workshop where they make some of the items. Almost every weekend, they are invited by pastors to speak and have a handicrafts show at a parish in the Washington area.

"They had a show at our parish and were very well received," said Father Gerald Weymes, pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly. "They have only quality merchandise."

Feras said he began the endeavor at Catholic churches because he was raised as a Roman Catholic, which is his mother’s religion. His father is of the Greek Orthodox faith.

"We feel that it’s very important to let them know of the difficulties our people are facing in the Holy Land," said Feras. "Usually our story is not being represented by the news media. It is vital as a group to remind people that it is the land where Christ lived and to preserve the Christian presence there. Those who can go out of the country need to help those who have to stay in. The situation back home requires every dedication, because if we don’t help our people who will?"

Butros said some society members have gone to Europe on behalf of the Holy Land artists, but he believes that the U. S. market is the best for them.

"Many people here belong to churches," he said. "People in the United States have a warm heart and are helpful people."

Holy Land Christians Cooperative Society craft shows will be held Jun. 29-30 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3304 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington, after the Masses on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:30, 9, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Spanish); on July 5 and 6 both at Queen of Apostles Church, after Masses on Saturday at 5 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. and noon; after St. Veronica Parish Masses on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Community of Faith United Methodist Church, 13224 Franklin Farms Rd., Herndon, and on Sunday at 7:45, 9 and 11 a.m. at Oak Hill Elementary School, 3210 Kinross Cir., Herndon; on July 13 and 14 at St. Patrick Church, 9151 Ely’s Ford Rd., Fredericksburg, after Masses on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. and July 20 and 21 at St. Paul Chung Church, 4712 Rippling Pond Dr., Fairfax, after Masses on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. (English) and at 5 p.m. For information call 202/302-5889, 703/606-0675 or go to www.holylandchristians.org.

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