As you know, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River. Since then, there has been a tradition of washing in the Jordan, followed by all pilgrims who have visited the Holy Land at least once. Thanks to Travel company "Thai Tours"- an experienced organizer of pilgrimage routes, the head of the UNIAN-Religions project, visited Jordan last year.
Jordan River.
For almost two thousand years, people have been coming to the banks of the biblical river, with the hope of receiving healing of soul and body after washing. During this time, the course of the river and the borders of the states along which its waters flow have repeatedly changed. Human faith in God's help and the possibility of a miracle for everyone remained unchanged.
Once a year, on January 19, on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, when Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem serves a festive prayer service on the Jordan, there comes a moment when the waters of the river turn back and flow in the opposite direction. So obviously and indisputably the Lord shows people His power and Divine grace.
Reversal of the Jordan River at EpiphanyVIDEO
They plunge into the Jordan River seven times, plunging headlong. (“And he went and dipped in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his body was renewed like the body of a little child, and he was cleansed. - 2 Kings, 5:14).
Everyone who has ever had to dip in the Jordan remembers what a strong current this river has, so write off this miracle for some a natural phenomenon, which happens from year to year on January 19 precisely during the prayer service of the Patriarch, does not occur to anyone. Yes, and tens of thousands of people who come to the holiday are witnesses to this - they all saw this unusual phenomenon with their own eyes.
Who knows, maybe two thousand years ago, the river also flowed back during the Baptism of Jesus Christ, when "the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove."
On the memorial wall at the entrance to Yardenit, it is written in different languages of the world: “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).
Pilgrims visiting the Holy Land have always wanted to take a dip, and some - to be baptized in the sacred waters of the Jordan - the most famous river on Earth, which combined the stories of the Old and New Testaments. The event that took place in these waters is of great importance for Christians around the world, so people needed to find a symbolic place for the baptism of Christ.
Complex "Yardenit", Israel. The place where the Jordan flows out of the Lake of Tiberias.
According to an early version, it was generally accepted that the place of baptism was located on the western bank of the Jordan River, in Israel, in the vicinity of Qasr el-Yahud (Arabic - "Jewish palace") in the territory of the Palestinian Authority. But since 1967, after the war, this section has been closed.
For the washing of pilgrims in 1981, Israel allocated an area in the place where the Jordan flows out of Lake Tiberias. A complex was built there, which was called Yardenit. This area, of course, was not historical place baptism of Jesus Christ, but coped well with its symbolic function and was the only place providing free access to the river.
The old course of the Jordan River, the village of Wadi al-Harar, Jordan. Place of the baptism of Jesus Christ. The Savior himself walked along these steps.
In 1996, as a result of archaeological excavations along the east bank of the Jordan River, an international team of scientists discovered the true place of the Savior's baptism. This place is located in Jordan, not far from the place where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea - in the Bethany Valley, in the village of Wadi al-Harar (Arabic - "murmuring water"). The place of baptism turned out to be forty meters east of the current Jordan. Since the 5th century, the river has significantly changed its course and receded from the place of baptism.
There is the oldest evidence that points to the place of Christ's baptism - this is a mosaic map of ancient Palestine of the 6th century, found in an Orthodox church - in the church of St. George, in Madaba.
Mosaic map of ancient Palestine of the 6th century in the church of St. George, in Madaba.
They say that it was with the help of this map that scientists discovered the undeniable place of baptism - the square marble base of the Greek column, on top of which there was once a cross - it was it that was mentioned as the place of Christ's baptism in the records of pilgrims from the time of the Byzantine Empire. Also, scientists have discovered steps leading to the water. Researchers believe that it was on these steps that Jesus Christ left his clothes before the sacrament of baptism.
A path leads to the place of baptism. Shrubs once grew here as an impenetrable wall.
In winter, a little water collects in the font of the old riverbed, but by summer the lake dries up completely. The descent is closed to pilgrims in any time of the year.
Not far from the place of baptism is a cave where John the Baptist lived. The apostles Matthew and Mark indicated in the Gospels that John preached in the wilderness of Judea, near Dead Sea. John the Theologian clarified that once this place was called Befabar and was located beyond the Jordan. It was here that Jesus Christ came at the age of 30 to be baptized - this is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
In these places the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.
As you know, John lived in the places where Elijah the prophet ascended. That is, it was from here that the Old Testament prophet was carried alive to heaven by a fiery chariot. And before that, according to the Old Testament, the prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan River on dry land. Here, 12 centuries before the baptism of the Lord, the twelve tribes of Israel formed, crossed the Jordan and settled the Promised Land. The first miracle on the river happened when the Israelites, following Joshua with the Ark of the Covenant, crossed the Jordan on dry land.
Already in early Christian times, Mary of Egypt, a well-known harlot and a great repentant sinner, who for 47 years prayed to the Lord for forgiveness and ate only leaves and grass, went to these places to mourn her sins.
Many pilgrims flock to the holy place every year. Today, paths have been laid in the excavation area, a bathing place has been equipped, and a pilgrimage center has been built nearby.
A place for ablution in the waters of the Jordan River. Several soldiers with machine guns are watching the invisible border from Jordan. There were no visible soldiers from the Israeli side - perhaps covert surveillance was carried out.
From Jordan, you can get to the place of baptism and ablution at any time. But there are restrictions on the part of Israel - depending on the military situation, since this is a Palestinian territory. They say that on Epiphany and Easter, Jordan opens the border for Israel so that pilgrims can bow to the shrines. From the Israeli coast to the coast of Jordan - about 10 meters, the border runs along the river and is not marked in any way.
The water in the Jordan River is brown and very turbid due to the fast current that erodes clay and carries silt. But if you put water in a bottle and let it stand for a while, the impurities settle and the water becomes clear.
The Jordan River - the eastern border of the Holy Land - is mentioned more than once in tones and other Jewish sources.
It was the crossing of the Jordan and the miracles revealed by Gd during this passage that served as the starting point, the beginning of the conquest of the land of Israel by the Jewish people.
Later, the Jordan River became the border between the tribes of Gad, Reuven and half of the tribe Lesser, who asked for a place on the east bank of the Jordan, and the rest of the tribes.
Interestingly, according to the prescription of the Torah, 3 of the 6 cities of refuge created by the Jews, Moshe-Rabbeinu singled out on the other side of the Jordan, although the population and territory occupied by the Israelites there was much smaller (Bamidbar 35: 9-15). And Rashi explains: this is because "... there are many murderers in Gilad" (Gilad is a region in Transjordan). Since we are talking about unintentional, accidental murders here, this can be interpreted as follows: there are more accidental killers there than in the Land of Israel. Obviously, this is due to the spiritual differences of the lands lying on opposite sides of the Jordan River.
And our wise men also say: the reason why those tribes were the first to be taken captive is that they chose to live beyond the Jordan.
One way or another, from these examples we see that the Jordan River served as a kind of spiritual "watershed" between the land of Israel and its neighboring lands.
Consider the main events of Jewish history associated with the Jordan.
Splitting the waters of the Jordan
Twice in gd stories divided the waters for the sake of the Jewish people.
The second time this happened was when Joshua bin Nun was leading the Jews to Eretz Israel across the Jordan. As it is said in one of the psalms: “The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned back” ( Tehillim 114:3).
However, there is a significant difference between the two events. When the Jews who left Egypt reached the Red Sea, they saw themselves in a hopeless situation. The Egyptian army overtook them from behind, and the deep sea blocked the way forward. There was nowhere to run. All that remained was to hope for a miracle. And a miracle happened: the sea parted, and the Jews were saved.
When the Jewish army led by Joshua approached the Jordan River, no one was chasing them. On the contrary, the Jews were to enter territory controlled by enemy forces. The width of the Jordan was only about thirty meters, and a bridge or a boat could be used for the crossing. Why, then, did the Almighty need to split the waters of the Jordan?
This miracle had a double purpose. First, it was to remind the Jews how Moshe led them through the Red Sea, and thus elevate Joshua bin Nun in their eyes as a worthy successor to Moshe and the undisputed leader of the nation.
And, secondly, Hashem wanted to instill fear in the Canaanite peoples and throw them off balance. Both goals have been achieved.
The crossing of the Jordan took place on Tuesday, the 10th of Nisan. 1270 BC e.
“That day Hashem magnified Yehoshua before the eyes of all Israel; and they began to fear him just as they feared Moshe ... "( Joshua 4:14). “And it came to pass when… all the kings of Canaan heard… that Hashem had dried up the waters of the Jordan… their hearts were trembling” ( there 5:1).
The miracles that happened to the Jewish people during the crossing of the Jordan showed him that, even in the absence of Moshe, G-d still patronizes them. Now they knew for sure that success was assured, Eretz Israel would be conquered.
In order to strengthen this impression and give His Will greater persuasiveness, Hashem ordered them to change the order of the formation of the twelve tribes when crossing the Jordan. During their wanderings in the wilderness, the Ark of the Covenant was carried by the Levites, who followed the tribes of Judah and Reuben, who led the column. Now the Levites handed over the Ark to the Kohanim, who stood in front of the entire procession.
When the Kohanim entered the river, the waters immediately parted. It was visible from afar how two gigantic water walls shot up to the sky, opening the way for the Jewish people to triumphantly enter their land.
Malbim gives the following figurative comparison: when the army is preparing to conquer foreign lands, the king becomes its head. With all his actions, he wants to show that he is the commander-in-chief of his army and the future ruler of the country to be conquered. Just as the battle columns of warriors respectfully part, opening the way for the king, the guards open the gates before him, in the same way the waters of the Jordan parted to allow the envoys of the King of Kings to enter the Holy Land.
Against the laws of nature
The splitting of the waters of the Jordan was the first of a series of miracles performed by the Almighty for his people in Eretz Israel. In addition to this miracle, there were others.
The sun and moon stood motionless over the Ayalon valley for a whole day to allow Yehoshua's army to complete the defeat of the Amorites (Emorites) ( Joshua 10:12-15).
During the battle in Beth Horon, huge boulders fell directly from the sky on the heads of enemies ( there 10:11).
Under King Hezkiyau, the 185,000-strong army of Sancherib, preparing for the siege of Jerusalem, died out completely in one night ( II Kings 19). In the books of the prophets and in the oral tradition, one can find many such stories when G-d miraculous way intervened in the course of events on the side of his people.
A miracle occurs in those cases when the Almighty wants to change once and for all the established, natural order of things. Whatever the goal pursued by Hashem - to save one person or an entire nation, or to show His power - the miracle He performed proves His complete and undivided power over man and nature. Although G-d is omnipresent, we are most clearly convinced of His Presence when something “impossible” is done, such as splitting the sea or delivering a small nation from the power of another nation, stronger and more numerous.
In Eretz Israel, His power is felt much stronger than anywhere else. “This is the land that Hashem, your G-d, takes care of, - the eyes of Hashem, your G-d, are incessantly on it” ( Devarim 11:12). In this regard, let us remember the laws established in memory of the miracles that have happened.
Laws related to visiting miracle sites
When visiting places where G-d performed miracles for the Jewish people, the following blessing should be said:
"Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our fathers in this place" .
This blessing is only recited if the person has not visited the place for thirty days (excluding the current day and the day of the last visit).
If, passing by a memorial site within the mentioned 30-day period, you did not read the blessing or did not know about the holiness of this place, you still cannot say the blessing until another 30 days have passed.
Many historical sites in Israel are associated with the conquest of the country by Yehoshua's army; among them is the place where the waters of the Jordan parted ("and the people went over against Jericho" - Joshua 3:16 ).
And also - the place where the boulders fell from the sky on the heads of the Canaanites (next to Beth Horon); and, of course, the remains of the ancient walls of Jericho (Jericho) that have sunk into the ground.
However, if you do not know the exact location of the place of the miracle, the blessing cannot be read. Instead, at the sight of, for example, some section of the Jordan River, one can read a laudatory song.
Song of the Jordan
Lived in the 14th century Rabbi Ishtori Aparhi composed a poem that is read at the sight of the Jordan River.
On the banks of the Jordan I will bless, praise, exalt and give thanks to Your Name,
For Your people You cut them like the Red Sea ...
And for Eliyahu you divided it...(before he ascended to heaven in a chariot); and the same for Elisha (his student), who was in no hurry when the Jordan parted before him.
Your holy right hand was naked (You showed dominion over the laws of nature), O bringer of salvation to a humble people.
Do as you see fit, O savior of Zion.
Circumcision at Gilgal
The day after entering Israel, Joshua circumcised all the males born in the wilderness.
The Levites and individual righteous people carried out this mitzvah(commandment) even during forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The rest of the people legally refrained from this sacred rite, so as not to endanger the lives of children. G-d led the Jews through the wilderness, and no one knew what would happen to them the next day. If the column of smoke stood still over the Mishkan, they did not move. If the pillar went up, they packed their things and set off, following the Cloud of Glory. Under such conditions, it was dangerous to circumcise a newborn baby, as it was easy to infect. Feverish preparations and the hardships of the campaign could also endanger the life of a child. For all the time of their wanderings in the desert, the healing northern breeze never blew, so as not to displace the Cloud of Glory. Because the Sanhedrin could not guarantee the safety of the children, he decided not to force the people to obey the commandment of circumcision.
But now, located at Gilgal and not fearing the attack of the Canaanite tribes, temporarily paralyzed by horror at the sight of the supernatural phenomena of nature that accompanied the passage of the Jews across the Jordan, the people felt secure enough to fulfill this most precious commandment.
The Jordan is one of the main water arteries in the Middle East.
The Jordan River originates at the foot of Mount Hermon, 14 km north of Lake Hula. Its source is the confluence of three rivers - Snir, Hermon and Dan, flowing from the slopes of Mount Hermon. The mountain receives a large amount of precipitation, both as rain and as snow. Its melt waters pass through cracks in the limestone rock of Mount Hermon, and come out in a mass of springs. The largest of the springs is Dan. The amount of water given out by this source is about 30,000 cubic liters per hour!
The entire Jordan River runs along the Syrian-African Rift. First, along the valley of Lake Hula, then the mountainous Jordan begins, then it flows into Lake Kinneret, then it continues along the Jordanian valley up to the Dead Sea, where 251 kilometers of the Jordan route ends. Along the entire length of the river, the waters of several more smaller streams are poured into it seasonally or constantly. The Jordan River is very meandering. The soils through which it flows are very soft and as soon as the river washes away one of the banks, it falls and blocks the channel. The river immediately begins to seek a new course. She, like a winding snake, slowly crawls towards the Dead Sea. The width of the Jordan River, like its depth, varies along its entire path. There are places where the width of the river is 5 meters, and there are places where the Jordan overflows even 40 meters. The depth of the Jordan River is also variable. In its northern part there are places where the depth reaches 2 meters, but most often it is just over 1 meter deep. When the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee and flows south, it becomes the state border between Israel and Jordan. Before reaching the Dead Sea, part of it flows through the territory, which today is called the territory of the Palestinian Authority. For almost two thousand years, people have been coming to the banks of the biblical river, with the hope of receiving healing of soul and body after washing. During this time, the course of the river and the borders of the states along which its waters flow have repeatedly changed. Human faith in God's help and the possibility of a miracle for everyone remained unchanged. Once a year, on January 19, on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, the waters of the river turn back and flow in the opposite direction. So obviously and indisputably the Lord shows people His power and Divine grace. The event that took place in these waters is of great importance for Christians around the world, so people needed to find a symbolic place for the baptism of Christ. According to an early version, it was generally accepted that the place of baptism was located on the west bank of the Jordan River, in Israel, in the vicinity of Qasr el-Yahud, in the territory of the Palestinian Authority. But since 1967, after the war, this section has been closed. The most visited in Israel by tourists and pilgrims is the baptismal center Yardenit, located at the point where the Jordan flows out of Lake Tiberias. In 1981, the Israeli government chose Yardenit as a symbolic place for the baptism of Jesus Christ. From Jordan, you can get to the place of baptism and ablution at any time. But there are restrictions on the part of Israel - depending on the military situation, since this is a Palestinian territory. On Epiphany and Easter, Jordan opens the border to Israel so that pilgrims can bow to the shrines. From the Israeli coast to the coast of Jordan, about 10 meters. The border runs along the river and is not marked by anything. The water in the Jordan River is brown and very turbid due to the fast current that erodes clay and carries silt. But if you put water in a bottle and let it stand for a while, the impurities settle and the water becomes clear. Before Jesus, whose story is told in the New Testament, there was the Old Testament. It describes the history of the Jewish people from the most ancient times, and it contains passages, including those related to the Jordan River.
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Christians around the world refer to the Jordan as sacred river because Jesus Christ was baptized in its waters. But where this very place is located for sure, it became known only at the end of the 20th century.
Vifara beyond the Jordan
The Gospel of John indicates the address of the place where John the Baptist preached and baptized - not far from the village of Bethabara beyond the Jordan. But where exactly is this village located? The fact is that in Palestine at that time there were several villages with the same name.
For a long time it was believed that Vifavara is located in Israel, not far from the town of Qasr El Yahud, which is 4 kilometers from the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea.
A mosaic on the floor in the church of St. George in the city of Madaba helped determine its true location. The 15 x 6 meter mosaic image, dated to the 6th century AD, is a perfectly preserved accurate map of the Holy Land, indicating all Christian shrines.
The map indicated that the place of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River is not in Israel, but on the opposite bank of the river in the town of Wadi al-Harar (on the territory of modern Jordan).
In addition, in the place where the rite of Baptism took place 2000 years ago, there is no water at the moment. For such a huge period of time, the river changed its course at the confluence with the Dead Sea and now flows several tens of meters closer to Israel.
In support of this version, in Wadi al-Harar, on a dry spot in 1996, archaeologists discovered the ruins of three Byzantine churches and a marble slab, on which, as they say, stood a column with a cross, installed in early Christianity at the site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. It is this column that is often mentioned in the written sources of the Byzantine era pilgrims who visited the Holy Places.
After a heated debate, scientists around the world and leaders of leading Christian denominations came to the conclusion that Wadi al-Harar is the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River.
So, in the spring of 2000, the visit of Pope John Paul II to these places ended with the official recognition by the Vatican of the fact that Wadi al-Harar is the greatest Christian Shrine.
The Russian Orthodox Church, in recognition of this fact, took part in the construction of an Orthodox church in honor of John the Baptist on the territory of Wadi al-Harar. It is believed that the temple is based on the very place where Jesus Christ left his clothes before plunging into the waters of the biblical river.
The opening of this greatest object in the whole of Christendom was made possible as a result of the peace agreement signed between Israel and Jordan in October 1994.
Yardenite in Israel
Many pilgrims who visit Israel every year would like to be able to take a dip or even be baptized in the waters of the Jordan River.
But the Jordan River, almost its entire length from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) to the Dead Sea, is a natural border between the two states of Israel and Jordan. The border, it must be said, is not always peaceful, in connection with which, the approaches to the river, both from one side and from the other, are under the close supervision of the military.
For this purpose, the Ministry of Tourism of Israel has identified a special place, which is a quiet backwater in the area of the source of the Jordan River from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). In 1981, a special complex for pilgrims was built on this site, called Yardenit.
According to the Gospel of Mark, at the moment of baptism in the waters of the Jordan River, a holy spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove: “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”. (Mk. 1, 9-11) It is these words, written on the memorial wall in all languages of the world, that greet the pilgrims who come here.
The complex is equipped with walking paths, convenient approaches to the water, changing rooms, showers. In the shops located on the territory of the complex, you can buy or rent pilgrim shirts, buy bottles for Jordanian water, various souvenirs and cosmetic products from the land of Israel.
In a local restaurant, you will definitely be offered to taste the tilapia fish, popular among tourists, which is called “St. Peter's fish” here.
The history of the origin of this name refers us to the Gospel of Matthew, according to which in those ancient times every Jew over 20 years old had to pay an annual tax of 2 drachmas for the maintenance of the Temple. But Jesus did not have money, and then he asked Peter to go to the sea, cast a line and pay the tax with the coin that he found in the mouth of the first fish he caught. It is believed that this fish was the tilapia. Behind the gills of the fish, two dark spots can still be seen, supposedly fingerprints of the Apostle himself.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over the world visit the Yardenit complex in Israel. Often entire buses arrive with pilgrims led by priests who perform the rite of Baptism here.
Very often among pilgrims who have already been baptized before, the question arises: “Is it possible to go through the rite of baptism again, but this time in the waters of the Jordan River?”. The fact is that baptism is a special ritual that takes place in the life of a believing Christian only once. The only exception can be a transition from one confession to another - in this case it makes sense to consult with the clergy of one or another confession.
Pilgrims perform ritual ablutions in the waters of the Jordan River to heal the soul and body. Dressed in white clothes, the pilgrims say the words of a prayer, after which they plunge into the waters of the Jordan three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Location: The southern end of the Kinneret, highway 90. From the highway to Yardenit 0.5 km.
How to get there: Regular buses from Jerusalem No. 961, 963, 964; by buses from the northern cities of the country, moving along highway number 90.
Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday: 08:00 - 18:00,
Friday and holiday eve: 08:00 - 17:00
Free admission. To maintain a pious atmosphere, all visitors are required to have white baptismal robes, which can be purchased ($24) or rented ($10).