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Jesus

Animals are commonly found in nativity scenes, but surprisingly not in the Bible.

An ox, an ass … a dragon? Sorry, there were no animals in the Bible’s nativity scene.

Belief

The animals that are so familiar in Christmas cards and carols didn’t begin to make an appearance until hundreds of years after Jesus’ birth.

The entrance to the room where the tomb of Jesus is located.

Jesus’ tomb was just exposed for the first time in centuries. Here are the photos.

Religion
Brazilian surfer Guido Schäffer

A man known as the ‘Surfer Angel’ could be Brazil’s next saint

Belief
The 82 year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen (center) is the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong and a supporter of the student-led pro-democracy campaign in the Chinese territory.

Christians take a prominent role in Hong Kong protests

Belief
Ben and Jerry's ice cream in Israel is labeled "glida," the Aramaic word for frost. In modern Hebrew, it means ice cream.

A history of Hebrew, told one word at a time

Arts, Culture & Media
A group of carolers holding candles

This Christmas celebration involves music, tamales and piñatas

Lifestyle & Belief

The often-overlook Mexican ritual of Las Posadas is an important part of the Christmas season, dating back 500 years. People go door to door, singing carols and celebrating with friends and family.

Runners honor Boston in first international marathon in Bethlehem

Over the weekend, runners gathered in Bethlehem to run the city’s first-ever marathon. While the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian situation and the Boston Marathon attacks influenced the events, the races went off without any problems.

Irish actress plays singular role in Broadway’s Testament of Mary

Arts, Culture & Media

The Testament of Mary is all about Mary. In fact, it has no other characters. Fiona Shaw plays the singular role in the new Broadway show, out this week. In it, she struggles with whether she did a good job of raising Jesus Christ.

The World

Tonys Preview: Remembering Nora Ephron

On Sunday, June 9, Broadway theater will celebrate itself at the 67th Tony Awards. Kurt Andersen spoke with Fiona Shaw, the star (and sole performer) of The Testament of Mary, which is nominated for Best Play; Tracy Letts, up for Best Actor in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf; and Tom Hanks and George C. Wolfe, […]

Runners at Bethlehem’s First Marathon Honor Victims in Boston

Conflict & Justice

The runners of the international marathon in Bethlehem showed support for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.