19/11/2025
The modern village of Taybeh, the only entirely Christian town in the West Bank, is widely identified with Biblical Ephraim, the town where Jesus withdrew after raising Lazarus in Bethany, as recorded in the Bible (John 11:54). Early Christians recognized this location as significant, and during the Byzantine period built a church there to commemorate Jesus’ retreat, preserving the memory of this quiet refuge shortly before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence, including church foundations and mosaics, supports this tradition, linking Taybeh not only to the Gospel narrative but also to one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the region. Today, pilgrims are invited to visit Taybeh to walk in the footsteps of Jesus at the last site He stayed before entering Jerusalem, making it a unique and meaningful stop on any Holy Land pilgrimage.
