Olive wood art displayed at Sacred Heart Church

This scene of the Last Supper was hand carved out of olive wood by a craftsman in Bethlehem. Hundreds of similar pieces, all made by Christian artisans, were put on display last weekend at Sacred Heart Church in Gaffney. It's not easy being a Christian in Bethlehem.

Christians make up just 1 1/2 percent of the population in the Holy Land and the number grows smaller each year as families leave to find more peaceful areas, said Issa Khier, a native of the Bethlehem region who came to the United States roughly 19 months ago.

Khier is on a mission to help change that tide.

Representing Christian artisans in the Holy Land who practice the art of olive wood carving, he's been traveling to churches across the country, displaying and selling their hand-crafted religious items.

Khier brought several hundred examples of the artwork to Sacred Heart Church in Gaffney this past weekend, gladly answering questions about the pieces as well as about life today in Bethlehem and surrounding areas.

All of the pieces were handcarved from the trimmings of the Bethlehem region's olive trees. No trees are damaged in the process, since trimming is essential to the trees' health and growth.

"It's different (olive wood) than in all the world," Khier said. "Nice grains. Different colors."

The wood still contains olive oil, Khier said, not only giving it fragrance but ensuring it will hold up well over the years.

An art form that has been handed down from father to son for the past 700 years, Khier said there are more than 600 families practicing this craft in Bethlehem today.

"They depend on this for a living," he said.

Prices for the artwork ranged from just a few dollars to several hundred, depending on the levels of complexity.