I. History and legend of Taybeh-Ephraim

I. Chronology of the village with references to the Old Testament

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II. Taybeh, from the Pentecost to Today

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III. Legend of Taybeh-Ephraim

Whilst the Evangelist do not talk about the episode of Ephraim in details, the story-tellers on the contrary have much to say about it. The Christ's stay in Ephraim that is mentioned but yet never described in the Bible was an extraordinary opportunity for the imagination of oriental story-tellers !

There are many legendary tales in the oriental Church. Westerners do not usually pay much attention to them, being mostly interested in the the veracity of the stories. Maybe this could be an opportunity to rediscover the inheritage of oral tradition, "re-creation" of the mind and remarkable medium of spiritual thoughts. What's interesting is not so much the veracity of the story but its meaning.

The oral tradition locates the healing of the 10 lepers of Ein Samieh, on the way to Ephraim (Luke 17,12). The cured Samaritan is said to have accompanied Jesus to Ephraim, shouting his happiness, to a point that really irritated the Apostles. Jesus stopped, called him, blessed him and sent him. The man, kissing the ground, asks for a new name. Jésus names him "Ephraim", because life was given to him twice (Ephraim indeed means "double fruit").

Arriving in Ephraim the notables of the village welcome the Rabbi, telling him: "You should stay with us; the temple hates you". A child runs to Jesus and gives him a pomegranate. While cutting the fruit, Jesus seizes the opportunity to tell a parable.

Jesus finally declines the invitation from the people of Taybeh but promises to come back.

Jesus kept his word. After the resurrection of Lazarus, he decides to head for Taybeh. On the way, the disciples are very afraid and comment the latest threats from the Sanhedrin. Jesus reassures them. Informed about his arrival, the people of Taybeh come to meet him, they thank him for coming back and assure him of their protection: "We are going to make you happy, they said; and this land that was for you land of Egypt will appeal to you as it did to Joseph".

The next day, Jesus sent his disciples, divided into two groups of five, to tell the Samaritans that the Day of the Lord was close. He keeps Saint John and Judah with him. The legend says that judah had a particularly awful behavior during the stay.

In Ephraim, Jesus sees peculiar visitors. A man called Samuel, member of the Sanhedrin, is said to have come to spy him, and to come back to Jerusalem upset by his failed mission.

Claudia, Pilates' wife, worried not to see the Galilean Rabbi anymore, rushed to make sure he had not lost his "extraordinary powers". She asks Jesus to heal Callixtus, one of her black slaves. To thank the Lord, Claudia offers him the slave along with a considerable amount of money. Jesus did not accept her present, but Claudia insisted as she felt offended by his refusal. So Jesus accepted her present, set Callixtus free and gave him the money.

It is also said that Virgin Mary, had Lazarus guide her to come and see her Son in Ephraim. The crowd was gathering around Lazarus to see the man "raised from the dead" and Saint Peter had to calm the people down...

Mary was reassured to see her Son in a good shape. The women were busy mending Jesus' and the Apostles' clothes. A the end of the stay, Jesus asked Lazarus to have his two sisters Martha and Mary take care of his mother during his journey to Jerusalem.

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