The Long Tradition of Tattooing in Christianity

For some Christians, both in the United States and around the world, tattoos are an important way of representing their faith in Jesus. For example, pilgrims to Jerusalem will sometimes get tattoos during their time in the Old City, usually crosses on their forearms. But the evidence is clear that the practice started a long time ago—shortly after Jesus’ crucifixion, in fact—and has continued down the centuries.