 Baptismal site with the Church of St John | ||
| al-Maghtas | ||
| Governorate | Al-Balqa Governorate | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | unknown | |
| no value for height on Wikidata: | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Bethany across the Jordan or Al-Maghtas are names of the baptismal site where John the Baptist is said to have baptized Jesus on the east bank of the Jordan; it is in today Jordan.
background
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According to biblical tradition in Joh 1,28 was the place of activity of John the Baptist on the east bank of the Jordan in "Bethanien beyond the Jordan". Various spiritual authorities assume that Jesus was baptized here and that the Holy Spirit came upon him in the form of a dove.
Since the 2nd century after Chr. the place is the destination of numerous pilgrims, churches and hermit huts still bear witness to it today. In Islamic times the site was largely deserted, churches were only built again in the British Mandate Zeuit and an increasing number of Christian pilgrims came to the baptismal site.
Since the Jordan formed the front line in the Six Day War and the banks were mined, the place was absolutely inaccessible as a military restricted area from 1967. Since the signing of the Israeli - Jordanian peace accord in 1994, the mines have been removed and extensive archaeological studies have been carried out. The place has been open to pilgrims without restriction since 2002 and was opened in 2015 UNESCO World Heritage recorded, so that today around 100,000 visitors are counted annually. As the first Pope, John Paul II visited the baptismal site in 2000, Pope Benedic XVI. in 2009 and Pope Francis in May 2014.
getting there
By plane
The nearest international airport is the 1 Queen Alia International Airport of Amman.
By train / bus
The place in the Jordan Valley is not connected to the railway network, according to Amman there are bus connections.
In the street
The baptismal site Al-Maghtas lies on the Jordan. It is over a dead end road from the highway 40 (of Amman), which is shared with the Jordan Valley Highway (65) is connected. The distance to Amman is approx. 60 km and can be covered in an hour.
By boat
The Jordan forms the border between Israel and Jordan and may not be passed outside the official border crossings between the two countries, passenger shipping is not offered.
mobility
Locally one moves on foot, for the route to the sights at the baptismal font (approx. 2 km) the leisurely strollers need two hours.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 The Baptism Site of Jesus. Tel.: 962 77784 2300, Fax: 962 535 90361, Email: [email protected]. Price: 12 JOD, 3 JOD for local Jordanians, shuttle bus included.
- 2 Church of Johannes d. Baptist
- 3 Baptismal site in the Jordan, Archaeologists were able to uncover the marble steps that led to the water, described in antiquity.
- 4 Grave site of St. Mary from EgyptAccording to legend, the pilgrim from Alexandria settled down as a hermit on the eastern bank of the Jordan after a visit to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- 5 hermitage, Ruins of several hermit cells, which in antiquity formed a Laura, a hermit monastery.
- 6 John the Baptist Source, the water served as drinking water and was also used to feed baptismal fonts.
- 7 Pilgrim hostel, the ruins date from the Byzantine period from the 5th / 6th century.
A little further to the east there is also a very important Christian site:
- 8 Hill of Elias: the locality, also called Saphsaphasâ or Wadi al-Kharrar known, was already considered in ancient times as the place where Elias ascended to heaven. Later, John the Baptist built a hermitage in a cave near the site and was visited by believers to be baptized in the Jordan.
activities
- Visit to the baptismal site and Tel Mar Elias; Baptisms are possible in the Jordan itself or in baptismal fonts filled with Jordan water.
shop
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
- 1 Russian pilgrims' hospice
health
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
- Website the baptismal site, engl.
