By Fr Paweł Rytel-Andrianik
The year 2030 will mark 2,000 years since the traditional date of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Bethany Beyond the Jordan — today known as Al-Maghtas — is regarded as the site of Christ’s baptism.
Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II during his visit to this site on Sep 13 issued directives to improve the site to enhance the experience of Christian pilgrims and visitors.
“The Crown Prince emphasised the need to carefully plan for the 2030 millennium celebrations, commemorating two thousand years since the baptism of Jesus Christ, in a manner that reflects the profound history of the site and occasion, and reaffirms Jordan’s status as a premier global destination for Christian pilgrimage,” read a statement of The Royal Heshemite Court.
“The Crown Prince—accompanied by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, and chairman of the Baptism Site Commission’s board of trustees—was briefed on the services offered to pilgrims and visitors. Her Royal Highness Princess Miriam Ghazi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, Director of the Office of the Crown Prince Zaid Baqain, and Baptism Site Commission Director General Abdullah Bawareed accompanied the Crown Prince on the visit,” it said.
Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II underlined the need to promote the Baptism Site more widely, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan Tourism Board, and all relevant partners.
At Al-Maghtas, in Jordan, archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of churches, chapels, hermits’ caves, and a baptistery — places of worship tied to Jesus’ Baptism. In 2015 this area was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Three Popes have made pilgrimages there: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. – Vatican News
