A new baptismal site will be opening this week and will be accessible to foreign tourists, Palestinians and Israelis. As released by the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria Spokesman's Office,this Sunday and Monday, 18-19.1.09, various Orthodox Christian communities will hold their traditional ceremonies at the Qasr al-Yehud baptismal site on the banks of the Jordan River, off the Jericho Bypass Road (Route #90).
The Greek Orthodox ceremony (18.1.09, beginning at 11:00) is expected to draw approximately 20,000 participants from Russia, Cyprus, Greece, Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It will begin with a procession from the St. John monastery to the baptismal site and will be presided over by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Other communities' ceremonies will be held as follows:
Ethiopian – 18.1.09, at 13:00.
Syrian – 19.1.09, at 08:30.
Coptic – 19.1.09, at 10:30.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Qasr El Yesud to Reopen to All
This site, the third most important site for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land (after the Church of the Sepulcher and the Church of the Nativity), is considered to be the site where, according to the New Testament, John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matthew, 3: 13-17). The site is also considered to be the place where the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan when they entered Canaan.
Because of the importance of the site, which is located on the road to Jericho from Jerusalem, many churches were built here over the centuries. In advance of the millennium, development plans were prepared in order to provide convenient access for pilgrims and a place of prayer, baptism and assembly, together with all necessary conveniences. These plans, which were frozen at the outbreak of the intifada, were refreshed about 2 years ago.
The site, which is expected to be opening within the first few weeks of 2009, will be free of charge to visitors and managed by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. No advance coordination will be necessary at this point.The site will be accessible to both Israelis and Palestinians as well as to foreign tourists.
Because of the importance of the site, which is located on the road to Jericho from Jerusalem, many churches were built here over the centuries. In advance of the millennium, development plans were prepared in order to provide convenient access for pilgrims and a place of prayer, baptism and assembly, together with all necessary conveniences. These plans, which were frozen at the outbreak of the intifada, were refreshed about 2 years ago.
The site, which is expected to be opening within the first few weeks of 2009, will be free of charge to visitors and managed by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. No advance coordination will be necessary at this point.The site will be accessible to both Israelis and Palestinians as well as to foreign tourists.
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