5 x Jerusalem Cross Tattoo in black. On his own arm, the Jerusalem cross and other Christian tattoos sit alongside massive Harley Davidson designs. Buried in a maze of alleyways in the Old City of Jerusalem near Jaffa Gate stands a small shop with a sign that reads, "Razzouk Tattoo: Tattoo with Heritage Since . The family carried on. Any unauthorized use will be considered as a violation and will be prosecuted accordingly. Legend says that when the Fatimid Caliph wanted to destroy Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the supposed site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, Christians hid the True Cross that held his body. In the meantime, we also decided to open another tattoo shop in the city center. It is traditional for pilgrims who visit the Holy Land to . If you get this tattoo you should realize that it reminds people of the strength and power that is represented by the image of a powerful lion. We schedule our appointments an hour apart every day between each appointment because we expect people to walk in. His wife Gabrielle joined him, and they work side by side. , All content The Catholic Traveler, LLC 2004 2022. View Etsys Privacy Policy. In late medieval heraldry the Crusader's cross was used for various Crusader states. I am proud that I achieved making this profession and business attractive for my children. This offers significant benefit over the previous techniques, which would dip the block in stamp-pad ink or powdered charcoala fugitive transfer pattern subject to smearing and disappearing during the tattooing process. After that he made a video explaining why he got a tattoo. Coins minted under Henry I (r. 11921197) show a cross with four dots in the four quarters, but the Jerusalem cross proper appears only on a coin minted under John II (r. I have been to Wassim 3 times during 3 separate trips to the Holy Land, and have had a wonderful experience. Theres nowhere else on Earth where one can get a traditional Christian design rendered from stencil blocks of such antiquity (some practitioners exist in Cairo, but they lack the Razzouks deep family history and collection of verified artifacts). Other times, they will stand as a connection between the spiritual and the physical. In the video he described his tattooing experience in our family shop, saying that tattooing is a tradition for pilgrims. But now the motorcycle-riding owner is teaching the art of tattooing to his 14-year-old son. A small shop in the heart of Jerusalem's walled Old City offers Christian pilgrims indelible memories of their visit to the holy city: tattoos with religious designs unchanged for centuries. Razzouk: Thats exactly what it is! Wassim Razzouk tattooing the classic Jerusalem Cross motif known to look exactly like this since at least the early 1600s. Coptic Christians who settled in Jerusalemfour generations ago, the family had learned the craft of tattooing in Egypt, where the devout wear similar inscriptions. For many Christians, the latter is a way to remember the humanity of Jesus. Just like we already mentioned, this symbol has five crosses. Wassim has developed new techniques for inscribing traditional pilgrimage tattoos faster and better. Generally said, crosses have a longstanding history as powerful cosmological and religious symbols. Got it! And, of course, lost it to Saladin at the Battle of Hattin. What was the final factor that persuaded you to continue your familys calling? However, the glyph associated with that character according to the official Unicode character sheet is shown as a simple cross potent, and not a Jerusalem cross. Can you talk about that? There are variants to the design, also known as "Jerusalem cross", with either the four crosslets also in the form of Crosses potent, or conversely with the central cross, also in the form of a plain Greek cross. However, it was sometimes used as a form of punishment. The journey from Egypt, Europe or England used to take months. Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days. Most of our designs are within the range of $75 to $150. By kirkandanali. And what is the best way to schedule an appointment? Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk completes a tattoo on a customers arm at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City, November 27, 2017. Inside the World's Only Surviving Tattoo Shop For Medieval Pilgrims. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, we DO NOT ship from Friday-Sunday. In this post-AIDS era, gone are days of being able to use the same tattoo needles used over and over for a year or more, or staunching bleeding with bandages lifted from one customer and applied to the next. This image is a symbol of faith that has stood the test of time. Jerusalem under the skin - pilgrim tattoos promoted by the Franciscans in the Holy Land.ppt . Razzouk: Designs that are very popular are the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, St. George slaying the dragon, Archangel Michael fighting the devil and the Angel of the Apocalypse. It is a heraldic cross and Christian cross variant consisting of a large cross potent surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses, one in each quadrant. Tripkovic: Razzouk studio prides itself on providing affordable tattoos. The Jerusalem cross is a heraldic design, as well as a Christian cross variant. Your email address will not be published. Its seasonal and depends on the time of the year. Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 weeks. Religion Unplugged56 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004, Religion Unplugged is a production of The Media Project and a member of the Institute for Nonprofit NewsEIN: 83-0461425site design by Peter Freeby, After that he made a video explaining why he got a tattoo, I also tattooed the famous British journalist and BBC presenter Fern Britton, we started the website with the online store, Sarah Abrevaya Stein and Aomar Boum, Secondary Feature, WWII, Nazi Germany, Tunisia, refugees, racism, nazism, fascism, eugenics, nationalism, North Africa, Africa, Christianity, Analysis, Catholicism, North America, Politics, Religion, Clemente Lisi, Catholic church, USCCB, analysis, LGBTQ, priests, clergy sexual abuse, immigration, politics, President Joe Biden, Democrats, Republicans, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, COVID-19, vaccines, pandemic, Homosexuality, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, secondary feature. How do you select brand ambassadors? Razzouk: If you travel to Egypt and you visit traditional Christian tattooists, you will see that they have wooden stamps that they use as tattoo stencils. However, most of our work comes from old designs. The modern Flag of Georgia was introduced in 2004 on the basis of the flag of Tbilisi shown in the Pizzigano chart. The central form represents the Old Testament law. Visitors to the holy city are given a certificate of their visit to the city." In May 1938, the last of the emperors of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, arrived in Jerusalem and of course getting a tattoo from the Razouq family was one of the things he did during his stay in the city. Later, as the faithful came to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, the practice expanded to offer these travelers permanent evidence of their devotion and peregrination. Sometimes it can go up to $300 or $400 depending on a tattoos size. Please note that these images are intentionally distorted for copyright reasons. Please consider supporting my work with Patreon or Venmo. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was very difficult for us because there were no tourists. Will always treasure the unique, meaningful tattoos. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Why? He starts by rubbing the stencil block with purple ink from carbon-copy papera transfer medium used worldwide by contemporary tattooers for decades, but prior to Wassims innovation, never used for pilgrimage stamps. We would be happy if you could share your experience with us by leaving a comment here.Thanks! It was part of the coat of arms of the short-lived Jerusalem Kingdom (1099-1203 AD). You had an opportunity to tattoo a lot of famous people. Its the weight of responsibility! Then the practice vanisheduntil now. It's the history of Jerusalem, the Cross of Jerusalem. The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire and this persecution continued under Islamic rule. Razzouk: Being a Christian in the Holy Land is not an easy thing. Razzouk: I think so. The email will also include the terms of use. What other Christian symbols are popular among your clients? Jovan Tripkovic: For 700 years the Razzouk family has been tattooing marks of faith. It was a black and red Jerusalem cross, made up of one central cross and four smaller ones, adorned with palm trees and the number 2017, representing his pilgrimage and the year his mother. Looking for the ideal Jerusalem Cross Gifts? Photographs hang on the shops wall depicting the last four generations of Razzouk family tattooers: (counterclockwise from top left) Jirius (with hand tool), Yacoub (with early machine), Wassim, Anton. I see many different ways to spread the awareness of our brand globally. Its symbolism is the Five Wounds of Christ, Christ and the four quarters of the world, or the four evangelists. Jerusalem Cross Tattoo. It has a different name, and its for local clients. Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins on the cross. It is traditional for pilgrims who visit the Holy Land to get the Jerusalem Cross tattooed on, as a mark of attainment, to show that they have completed the pilgrimage. It seemed that the business might die with him, as none of his children were initially interested in carrying on the family craft. 1232. JERUSALEM Razzouk Tattoo studio in Jerusalems Old City is most likely the oldest in the world. Razzouk: I think it was in 2015 or 2016 I really cant remember. Regular price: $299.00. Anton noted wistfully that he would be the last generation of tattoo artist in the . Directly to your inbox. Tattoo artist, Wassim Razzouk, holds an ancient wooden tattoo stamp near a tattoo he recently completed on his customer's arm at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City November 27, 2017. Tripkovic: The Razzouks are Coptic Christians. It is a recognition and fascination. A woman shows off her fresh tattoo done by artist Wassim Razzouk at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City November 27, 2017. The "cross-and-crosslets" or Tealby pennies minted under Henry II of England during 11581180 have the "Jerusalem cross" on the obverse, with the four crosslets depicted as decussate (diagonal). My strength comes from being a Christian and devout believer who prays to God every day and thanks God for the opportunity that has been given to my family to become famous around the world. If your answer was no, that would mean the end of a 700-year-old tradition. St. George Street seems a particularly appropriate location, since St. George and the Dragon is a common pilgrimage tattoo motif. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. St. George and the Dragon tattoo motif as tattooed from a stencil block that dates to 200 or 300 years ago. Catholic Cross Tattoo with Rosary. Jerusalem Cross Tattoo - Luckyfish, Inc. And Tattoo Santa . Keep in mind that anyone can view public collectionsthey may also appear in recommendations and other places. . Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Jerusalem cross is often used in frequency selective surface application. Another (American Catholic) priest, Father Mike Schmitz had a video against tattooing and how he would never get one. These punctures they make with great quickness and dexterity, and with scarce any smart, seldom piercing so deep as to draw blood. Contrary to expectation, we dont have a long waiting list because we dont do one or two tattoos a day like famous tattoo artists. A comprehensive description of the historical technique comes from Reverend Henry Maundrell, a chaplain for the English Levant Companys office in Aleppo, Syria. Jerusalem Cross 14k Gold pendant from the Holy Land Three layers of gold - yellow, Rose and white. For 700 years, Christian pilgrims have sought out the Razzouk family for their specialist skills. The arms of the King of Jerusalem featured gold on silver (in the case of John de Brienne, silver on gold), a metal on a metal, and thus broke the heraldic Rule of Tincture; this was justified by the fact that Jerusalem was so holy, it was above ordinary rules. Red Jerusalem cross Sticker. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. I thought I was ready, but after seeing a white tattoo, I couldn't make up my mind. It consists of a large cross potent that four smaller Greek crosses surround, one in each quadrant. That doesnt mean that we dont do any other kinds of tattoos. This design is rich in meaning and symbolism, and it goes by many different names, such as Crusader's Cross. Modern designs aside, the pilgrimage tattoos are what compel people to travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to the Razzouks shop. But he said he stumbled on the Razzouks' website and "was just really taken by it". They discovered the tradition of tattooing Christian pilgrims with the Jerusalem Cross and not the Coptic Cross. We started the tattooing tradition back in Egypt, where we used to tattoo Christian Copts with a small cross on the wrist. Tripkovic: Your sons Anton and Nizar are deeply involved in the family business. At about the same time, the Pizzigano chart uses it as the flag of Tbilisi (based on the latter example, the Crusader's cross was adopted as the flag of Georgia in 2004). During the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, they decided to settle. It was the ultimate sign of your Christianity because you had to prove you are a Christian to enter a church. Despite hard times in the region, the Razzouk tattooing tradition has remained alive for 28 generations. The Jerusalem Cross has long been the first (and possibly only) tattoo Ive wanted. They see it, not only through work but through the eyes, smiles, faces and sometimes tears of pilgrims who come to our studio to become a part of pilgrimage tattoo worldwide historic club. Razzouk: Our global popularity is the reason why we started this program. Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. We want to grow in the future. Wassim Razzouk inks a stencil block with carbon-paper ink to create a durable transfer to the skin. A post shared by Matt Chandler (@mattchandler74). Thorn Tattoo Design With Deep Meanings And Variations, Faith Hope Love Inspired Tattoo Designs And Ideas, Script Tattoo Design And Different Examples And Ideas, Rosary Design As A Big Part Of Religious Tattoo Art, Sacred Heart Tattoo Design Through Religion And Love, Resurrection: A Tattoo Design As Part Of Religious Tattoo Art, The Triple Moon Tattoo Design History And Symbolism, The Irish Claddagh Symbol: Love, Loyalty, and Friendship. Its not easy to be a Palestinian Christian in a country where you have the Jewish State that discriminates between Jews and non-Jews and on the other side you have Muslim Arabs who consider Christians to be pagans and frown on them. USD 89.25, USD 105.00 Razzouk Tattoo in Jerusalem has been run by the same family since the 1300s. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. 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