Taybeh is a village of 1400 souls situated at about 30 km north of Jerusalem on what is called now the west bank. It has the remarkable peculiarity of being the only one entirely Christian village in the Holy Land.

In the Biblical times, it was known as Ophra (Js 18, 23), Ephron or Ephraim (s13, 23).

Later on, in the Evangelical times, it was said to be the place where Jesus came before his passion with his disciples (Jn 11, 54). It was after Lazarus resurrection in Bethany, a miracle which was to be one too much for the Jewish religious authorities.

Jesus went away from Jerusalem and came to Ephraim with his disciples.

The reason why he chose this village was undoubtedly that he would be out of reach of the Sanhedrin’s jurisdiction: Ephraim was in Samaria and not in Judea.

Centuries elapsed. The misfortunes the Holy Land to endure through history reduced this city to a little Arabic village which taking one year after another managed to keep its specific Christian character.

A tradition says that Salah Al Din al Ayubi (Sultan of Egypt and Syria), himself gave the village the name of (el Taybeh) which means (the good) to thank the population for the help they would have granted to him.