The family carried on. In the age of celebrities and social media influencers, this helps our business a lot. Tripkovic: The Razzouk family learned how to tattoo in Egypt. There are many variants to the design, which we call them Jerusalem crosses. This long-married Christian couple went to Jerusalem earlier this year, and walked in the footsteps of Jesus. I highly recommend to future clients to set up an appointment and to give us at least a week or two. Many people from Brazil, Mexico and Portugal followed Father Mike Schmitz and got a tattoo in our studio. Pilgrims accounts dating to the late 16th century offer a glimpse into the eras tattoo culture, and how purveyors such as the Razzouks must have tattooed back then, with sewing needles bound to the end of a wooden handle. However, these tattoos, in general, can symbolize the following: When it comes to the Jerusalem cross, you can use other elements or symbols to give it stronger meaning. I think 10 or 11 people, including our priest, ended up getting tattoos. Upon entering Razzouk Ink, you will discover a blend of stone walls and exposed beams lending antique character to the space, while the sterile tattoo parlor hides behind a wall. How do you select brand ambassadors? So this happened yesterday during Orthodox Holy Week in Jerusalem, at Razzouk Tattoo, the Coptic ink shop in the Old City. The Jerusalem cross is a heraldic design, as well as a Christian cross variant. 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. Wassim Razzouk (center) with his sons Anton (left) and Nizar (right). Throughout history, it has symbolized spirituality and power. We would wait for them to call us, and when they were accepted, we asked them to come to our shop at least a week and spend time with us. USD 106.25, USD 125.00 But don't worry: the cross design is as timeless as the sea. Some of them were Armenian, others were Palestinian Christians, and there was even a Brit who stayed in the Holy Land for a long time tattooing pilgrims. And I concluded that I need to do it at least as a part-time job just to keep it alive the same way my father did it. The film focuses on the Razzouk family and their tradition of tattoos so much that it barely mentions Israel . During my recent visit, he was cheerful and energetic, always willing to talk about history, faith and tattoos. The Jerusalem cross is Christianity's major symbol, representing the command of Christ to spread the Gospels worldwide, starting in Jerusalem. Tripkovic: Your grandfather tattooed the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in the 1930s. 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. June 22, 2019. Copyright 2018 - 2021 Tattoo Art from the Heart All rights reserved | Hosting and development by MSP. I would be happy to pass the torch. The journey from Egypt, Europe or England used to take months. Great! Red Jerusalem cross Sticker. The growing field probes everything from family collections to problematic museum exhibits. By kirkandanali. The modern Flag of Georgia was introduced in 2004 on the basis of the flag of Tbilisi shown in the Pizzigano chart. During the pandemic, we started the website with the online store. Required fields are marked *. But during the Israeli War of Independence in 1947, many people of Palestinian heritage fled their homes, along with Coptic Christians like the Razzouks, who left for neighboring Jordan. Catholic Cross Tattoo with Rosary. Razzouk: The Jerusalem Cross, because of its meaning. This is apparently reported in an 1829 vexillological publication ( , , ("Collection of banners, flags and pennants, used in the Russian Empire", St. Petersburg, 1829, reprinted 1833; the historicity of this is doubtful, c.f. Please also note that once you have bought this design, intellectual property remains for the Razzouk Tattoo Family and it would be a legal breach if posted online or resold or used for any other intentions other than getting the tattoo of this design on yourself. Proprietor Wassim Razzouk, 44, said he resisted going into the family business for many years. 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. [14], Heraldic symbol and Christian cross variant, The design with the crosslets as crosses potent is medieval, e.g. 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. Noel Heavey, is tattooed by artist, Wassim Razzouk, who is continuing his family's tradition of inking Christian pilgrims with ancient tattoos, at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City November 27, 2017. Your family has been in this business for 27 generations (28 with your sons). Promotions, new products and sales. I gifted these dear friends with the mark of faith. We also do tattoos that are tourist related such as the Jerusalem skyline or an olive branch. Razzouk Tattoo in Jerusalem has been run by the same family since the 1300s. Some of the wooden stamps they use date back hundreds of years. Many people from Britain came to our shop because of her. According to the findings of scholars, the big cross in the middle represents the power of Christianity. This cross also represents the combination of the Old Testament and the New Testament teachings. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Razzouk: I think so. If so, why? The Unicode character set has a character , U+2629 CROSS OF JERUSALEM in the Miscellaneous Symbols table. Wassim Razzouk . Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. CafePress brings your passions to life with the perfect item for every occasion. The Jerusalem cross (also known as "five-fold Cross", or "cross-and-crosslets") is a heraldic cross and Christian cross variant consisting of a large cross potent surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses, one in each quadrant. However, Italians, Germans, Brits and other European pilgrims come during the summer. [3], The Gelre Armorial (14th century) attributes to the "emperors of Constantinople" (the Latin Empire) a variant of the Jerusalem cross with the four crosslets inscribed in circles. I took a group of people to a 700 year old tattoo shop in Jerusalem. It's there for life. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor? 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. Jerusalem Cross Tattoo - Luckyfish, Inc. And Tattoo Santa . Do you think its your familys destiny to tattoo pilgrims? Update: Pics from another one of my pilgrimage groups. The artists use centuries-old stamps as stencils, which they then tattoo over using a tattoo gun. As a holy symbol for Christians, cross tattoo designs are powerful, often representing a way for guys to carry their faith and love for Jesus around with them everywhere. Tripkovic: Where do your customers come from? The artists who undertake the operation do it in this manner. Razzouk: Usually people who come to the shop to get tattooed are ready for them and have already passed this stage of thinking. People who want to be part of this history but cant visit the Holy Land for a variety of reasons can experience our tradition. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. They are still very young: 21 and 19 years old. Jerusalem Cross 14k Gold pendant from the Holy Land Three layers of gold - yellow, Rose and white. Tripkovic: For years you resisted the idea to join the familys business. Orthodox Christians from the Arab countries (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon) come as well. They would have to work with me for the next couple of years until they fully grasp the responsibility and are able to take over. A woman shows off her fresh tattoo done by artist Wassim Razzouk at his studio in Jerusalem's Old City November 27, 2017. Sunday - Friday: 11AM 7PMSaturday: 12PM 7PM, Address:Shvil Saint George 31, Jerusalem. The technique of using wooden stamps as stencils is still used in Egypt, and it came with my family when we arrived in the Holy Land. Tripkovic: How much did the Razzouk tattoo design evolve during the time? Thank you! What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your studio? Concentration Camp Number Tattoos: Testament Of Brutality, Bamboo Plant Tattoo Symbolizing Youth and Strength, And Protection, Alcohol As A Meaningful Symbol In The Tattoo Culture. This way, they will have a guaranteed spot. In the video he described his tattooing experience in our family shop, saying that tattooing is a tradition for pilgrims. . Tattoo in real motif size of approx. Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days. Its very difficult. They have stamps in wood of any figure that you desire; which they first print off upon your Arm with powder of Charcoal; then taking two very fine Needles, tyd close together, and dipping them often, like a pen in certain Ink, compounded as I was informd of Gunpowder, and Ox-Gall, they make with them small punctures all along the lines of the figure which they have printed, and then washing the part in Wine conclude the work. And four corner crosses represent Christianity spreading to the four sides of the world. Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends, Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Osteological Specimens, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy, Mindful Mixology: Making Non-Alcoholic Cocktails During Dry January With Derek Brown, Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects, Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, How the Discovery of a Unique Sign Language Reconnected a Linguist With Her Past, How a Groundbreaking Pastry Chef Bakes Outside the Lines. We were spending our savings like everybody else, trying to survive day by day and hoping for things to become better. Jerusalem Cross: Symbol Of Christianity, Used In Tattoos. For millennia, women adorned their daughters, and sometimes sons, with symbols of belonging and protection. Ill be back in March and probably return with a permanent souvenir. I tattooed (American evangelical) Pastor Matt Chandler and his wife. 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. Razzouk: Not many Jews or Muslims come to get tattooed in our shop. [8] Philip of Courtenay, who held the title of Latin Emperor of Constantinople from 12731283 (even though Constantinople had been reconquered by the Byzantine Empire in 1261) used an extended form of the Jerusalem cross, where each of the four crosslets was itself surrounded by four smaller crosslets (a "Jerusalem cross of Jerusalem crosses").[9]. Razzouk: Yes, of course! Otherwise, it could symbolize Christ and the two others who were crucified with him at Golgotha. Some people even offered to pay me to travel to their countries to tattoo them. That helped us a lot in the last 10 years. Sometimes, a cross with a name is used as a personal way to mourn for departed kin and friends. Coptic Christians who settled in Jerusalemfour generations ago, the family had learned the craft of tattooing in Egypt, where the devout wear similar inscriptions. It is traditional for pilgrims who visit the Holy Land to . 1232. Another interpretation of this cross is the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, with Christ in the middle. Anton relates the story of one man whose arms were covered in dateseach representing a consecutive year of pilgrimage from the 1930s on. Ten years ago, though, he went online and found an interview in which his father discussed the tattoo tradition. It . View Etsys Privacy Policy. 5 x Jerusalem Cross Tattoo in black. Pilgrimage tattooing became a dying art. Maundrell writes: The next morning nothing extraordinary passd, which gave many of the Pilgrims leisure to have their Arms markd with the usual ensigns of Jerusalem. Tell me about the beginning of this great journey. Its the weight of responsibility! Razzouk has been around for 700 years! Human beings are inking their skin with tattoos for thousands of years. Modern designs aside, the pilgrimage tattoos are what compel people to travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to the Razzouks shop. [13] The Jerusalem cross was chosen as the emblem of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag (German Evangelical Church Congress) in the 1950s, since the 1960s shown in a simplified form where the central Cross potent is replaced by a simple Greek cross. [11][unreliable source?]. In the early 20th century, the Jerusalem cross also came to be used as a symbol of world evangelisation in Protestantism. And not only that, but also to spread the word in my own way, by tattooing pilgrims. Wassim revitalized and reinvented the business, expanding beyond traditional pilgrimage tattoos to other genres. These days, Pastor Matt Chandler and Father Mike Schmitz have more followers than the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia back then. From $1.29. Just inside the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalems Old City, you can duck down the second side street to the left, as I did, finding respite from the beating sun and leaving the bustle of the crowded main square. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The melding of modern hygiene practices with hundreds of years of history allows this historic business to march into a future that must consider potential dangers like bloodborne pathogens, despite trusting in God to prevent unfortunate outcomes. 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: Your business model heavily relies on tourists. It actually strengthens and spreads this tradition all over the world. Can you talk about that? The Kingdom of Jerusalem uses it as the emblem, as well as the coat of arms since the 1280s. This is the reason why it is already a normal thing to many. (15% off), Ad vertisement from shop KNOTFindsTUTORials, Ad vertisement from shop LookingGlassTrading, Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! I got two tattoos there last month, and the experience gave me my new favorite story behind my ink. 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. Roman emperors had utilized a globe topped with the goddess of victory. Media coverage just happened. A simple blazon of or, a cross argent is documented by Matthew Paris as the arms of John de Brienne, who had been king of Jerusalem during 12101212, upon John's death in 1237. Join us for a daily celebration of the worlds most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places. When Albert, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), visited Jerusalem in 1862, he had a Jerusalem cross tattooed on his arm. St. George and the Dragon tattoo motif as tattooed from a stencil block that dates to 200 or 300 years ago. But several years ago, Antons son Wassim, who had gone to college for hospitality management, became interested in tattoos through his passion for motorcycle culture. Most of our designs are within the range of $75 to $150. 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. , All content The Catholic Traveler, LLC 2004 2022. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. It is an iconic landmark, attracting tourists from all corners of the Earth, because the Razzouk family has been tattooing since the year 1300. This long-married Christian couple went to Jerusalem earlier this year, and walked in the footsteps of Jesus. It is because there are great numbers of people who have these symbols tattooed on their bodies. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. The gold and silver were also connected to Psalms 68:13, which mentions a "dove covered in silver, and her feathers with yellow gold". Also, the red of the garnets represents the sacrifice of God for man. 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. The symbol is basically composed of 5 crosses; 1 large central cross with 4 smaller crosses in each quadrant. Regular price: $299.00. We never reached out to tattoo artists, asking them to become ambassadors. I'll be back in March and probably return with a permanent souvenir. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Occasionally, tattooists from around the world would send a message expressing their desire to become ambassadors. Any unauthorized use will be considered as a violation and will be prosecuted accordingly. However, its association with Jerusalem dates to the second half of the 13th century.