A newly dedicated Catholic church now stands along the eastern bank of the Jordan River at Al-Maghtas, a site long associated with the Baptism of Jesus.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, serving as papal representative, led the inauguration ceremony on January 10.
The building, known as the Church of the Baptism of the Lord, can hold more than 1,000 people and is constructed with distinctive yellow limestone quarried in the region. Stained-glass windows were installed in a style reminiscent of medieval French cathedrals.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II granted the land in 2003, and the project was overseen by local Church authorities. Donations from the Hungarian government and other benefactors facilitated construction.
Relics of St. John Paul II and the Holy Martyrs of Damascus were placed inside the altar during the dedication rites. Men and women religious of the Institute of the Incarnate Word have been entrusted with maintaining the church.
Al-Maghtas, sometimes referred to as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, lies just north of the Dead Sea.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization lists the area as a World Heritage Site.
Photo credit: Sovik73 / Shutterstock.com
