The next point on the route is Orthodox monastery St. Gerasimos of Jordan, located five kilometers from the Dead Sea, a kilometer from the Jordan River and the supposed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ. Gerasim (in the world Gregory) was from Asia Minor (the region of present-day Turkish Antalya), from a wealthy family. Having left the world and taken monasticism, he retired to the Thebaid desert in Egypt, and then in about 450 he came to Palestine, where he founded a monastery not far from the Jordan River.
1. The monastery is surrounded on all sides by a hot desert, but the territory of the monastery is green and cozy.
2. Patio.
3. Panel depicting the Dome of the Rock. I wonder why this panel depicting the Muslim shrine of Jerusalem is in an Orthodox monastery?
5. A proud rooster in the yard.
Leaving the monastery, we head directly to the Jordan River, along which the border between Israel and Jordan passes. The supposed place of the baptism of Jesus Christ was in the area of Bethavara, in the lower reaches of the Jordan, about 10 kilometers from its confluence with the Dead Sea. Today this place is known as Qasr El Yahud. It is located in the border military zone between Israel and Jordan and for a long time was closed to the general public - access here was possible only to pilgrims once a year on the feast of Epiphany. Therefore, for mass visits by pilgrims and tourists in 1981, the Israeli government chose another, “symbolic” place, entirely on Israeli territory, 50 kilometers from here up the river - in the place where the Jordan flows from Lake Gennesaret on the territory of Kibbutz Kinneret. This place is called Yardenit.
And in 2011, the historical site of baptism, Qasr El Yahud, was also opened to public visits. So today you can take a dip in the Jordan River in two places at once - the “symbolic” Yardenit (entirely on Israeli territory) and the “historical” - Qasr El-Yahud (and you can get there from both Israel and Jordan). We are heading to that very “historical” place - to the border of Israel and Jordan.
6. Qasr El Yahud is a strictly guarded border area surrounded by barbed wire - before getting to the Jordan River, tourists pass through a security checkpoint. The territory bordering Jordan beyond the fence has been mined in many places - since the Six-Day War of 1967 (as a result of which the West Bank from Jordan came under the control of Israel). There is desert all around - the Jordan flows in the green valley below, and the distant mountains are already the territory of Jordan.
7. Both banks of the Jordan at the site of the supposed baptism of Christ are accessible to visitors today - from the Jordan side a small font descends to the water, and on the Israeli bank everything is much larger. The border runs in the middle of a small river barely ten meters wide. Swimming areas on each bank are limited by floats, which you cannot go beyond to avoid crossing the border. Numerous signs also warn about the border between Israel and Jordan passing here. It is also interesting that you cannot contact people on the opposite bank - shout to them, wave your arms. The military is monitoring this. It looks especially funny when Russian groups arrive from each bank in Qasr El Yahud.
8. Ahead is the state border.
9. On the Israeli shore.
10. On the opposite bank of Jordan there is a Greek Orthodox Church.
11. Flag of Jordan.
12. The Jordan, meandering through the valley, often changes its course. Research has shown that, apparently, 2000 years ago the river bed ran further east, in the territory of modern Jordan. And accordingly, the exact place of Christ’s baptism is located today on Jordanian soil. If you visit Qasr El Yahud not from the Israeli, but from the Jordanian side of the border, then a few hundred meters from the river you can see the archaeological site of the supposed old riverbed. However, today it is hardly possible to determine the place of baptism 100% accurately.
13. The Jordan bed is outside the tourist area. The width is three or four meters, the current is quite weak, the banks are swampy. In the upper reaches of the Jordan, water is widely used for irrigation, and several dams have been built. Many centuries ago the river was apparently much more powerful. However, sometimes even today, during the winter rains, significant water rises and even floods occur in the Jordan.
14. Photo with a view of Jordan.
15. Pilgrims plunge into the waters of the Jordan from the opposite bank.
16. Having visited the bank of the Jordan River in the town of Qasr El-Yahud, we continue the route through Palestine: the next stop is ancient Jericho. This city is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth - its history goes back about 10 thousand years.
Of course, during this period the settlement that existed here was repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and passed from hand to hand by different rulers. The most famous destruction of Jericho is reflected in the biblical legend - according to which in the 13th century BC the walls of the city fell from the loud sound of trumpets during the siege by the army of Joshua. And the expression “Trumpet of Jericho” has long become a household word.
Today Jericho - Big City West Bank, completely under the control of the Palestinian Authority ("Area A" -). Israeli citizens cannot visit these areas of Palestine, and holders of Palestinian passports, on the contrary, cannot visit Israel without special permits. In recent history, this was not always the case - in the 90s, Israelis loved to relax in Jericho: it was cheap, plus there were several casinos and gambling zones. But after the Arab-Israeli conflict of 2000-2005 (“Second Palestinian Intifada”), everything changed - the mutual rules of movement of Israelis and Palestinians became stricter, separation barriers appeared, etc. Today it is relatively calm here again, tourism has begun to develop again, but people live in Jericho very poor. And this is very striking in contrast to Israeli cities.
17. In the oases of the Judean Desert in the area of the Dead Sea and the lower reaches of the Jordan River there are a lot of date palm plantations. Dates are one of the most important agricultural products in Israel, including for export.
18. This is how they grow.
19. Jericho has a cable car that takes tourists from the city center to Mount Quarantal (or Mount of Temptation), where, according to legend, the devil tempted Jesus while he was fasting for 40 days. When traveling by cable car, very open beautiful views cities, oasis, Judean Desert and Jordan Valley.
21. Archaeological excavations of ancient Jericho.
22. Mosque.
23. Many houses are abandoned. The streets are deserted, there are almost no people.
25. Outside the city lies the Jordan River Valley, along which the border with Jordan runs. There is an Israeli-controlled border crossing not far from here.
27. Mount Karantal.
28. On the rocks of this mountain is the Orthodox Greek monastery of Temptation (or Carantal), founded in the 4th century.
29. The buildings of the monastery are built directly on the steep ledges of the mountain.
32. Monastery streets on a steep rocky ledge.
33. In one of these caves on the mountain, according to legend, Christ fasted for 40 days.
36. Views from one of the balconies.
39. Let's sit in cable car- and we return downstairs. It's good for tourists - there is a funicular. But pilgrims have to climb the Mount of Temptation on foot, which is very difficult in the forty-degree heat.
This is where the one-day trip to Palestine ended - from Jericho to Jerusalem it is only 30 kilometers, very close. In conclusion, I will traditionally say that I will return to these parts with pleasure: it would be interesting to travel around Palestine, see Nablus, Ramallah, other cities... Bethlehem, of course. But that's for another time. And our next plan is Israel again: the Masada fortress, the Dead Sea and then the north of the country, the city of Haifa and the surrounding area.
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, which is followed by all pilgrims who have visited the Holy Land at least once. Thanks to travel company "Tayki Tours"- an experienced organizer of pilgrimage routes, 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 changed several times. What remained unchanged was human faith in God's help and the possibility of a miracle for everyone.
Once a year, on January 19, on the day of the Epiphany, 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 undeniably the Lord shows people His power and Divine grace.
Reversing the Jordan River for EpiphanyVIDEO
They plunge into the Jordan River seven times, immersing themselves 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 plunge into the Jordan remembers what a strong current this river has, so attribute this miracle to some kind of a natural phenomenon, which happens year after year on January 19 precisely during the prayer service of the Patriarch, does not occur to anyone. 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 heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove.”
On the memorial wall at the entrance to Yardenit on different languages world written: “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came out of the water, John immediately saw the heavens opening and the Spirit like a dove descending on 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 be immersed, and some - baptized, in the sacred waters of the Jordan - the most famous river on Earth, which combines the stories of the Old and New Testaments. The event that took place in these waters is of utmost importance for Christians all over the world, so people needed to find a symbolic place of the baptism of Christ.
Complex "Yardenit", Israel. The place where the Jordan flows out of Lake Tiberias.
According to an early version, it was generally accepted that the place of baptism was located on the west bank of the Jordan River, on Israeli territory, in the vicinity of Qasr el-Yahud (Arabic - “palace of the Jews”) in the territory of the Palestinian Authority. But since 1967, after the war, this site was closed.
In 1981, Israel allocated an area where the Jordan flows from Lake Tiberias for the ablution of pilgrims. There the complex was built, which was called “Yardenit”. This territory, of course, was not the historical site of the baptism of Jesus Christ, but it fully coped with its symbolic function and was the only place that provided free access to the river.
Old bed of the Jordan River, Wadi al-Harar village, 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 eastern bank of the Jordan River, an international team of scientists discovered the original site 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 present Jordan. Since the 5th century, the river has significantly changed its course and retreated from the baptismal site.
There is the oldest evidence that points to the place of Christ's baptism - this is a mosaic map of ancient Palestine from the 6th century, found in an Orthodox church - in the Church of St. George, in Madaba.
Mosaic map of ancient Palestine from the 6th century in the Church of St. George, Madaba.
It is said that it was with the help of this map that scientists discovered the undisputed site of baptism - the square marble base of a Greek column, on the top of which there was once a cross - it was mentioned as the site of Christ's baptism in the records of pilgrims during the Byzantine Empire. Scientists also discovered steps leading to water. Researchers believe that it was at these steps that Jesus Christ left his clothes before the sacrament of baptism.
A path leads to the baptism site. Shrubs once grew here like an impenetrable wall.
In winter, a little water collects in the font of the old river bed, 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 there is a cave where John the Baptist lived. The apostles Matthew and Mark indicated in the Gospels that John preached in the desert of Judea, Dead Sea. John the Theologian clarified that once this place was called Bethavar and was located beyond the Jordan. It was here that Jesus Christ came at the age of 30 to be baptized - this is stated 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 away alive to heaven by a chariot of fire. 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 were formed, crossed the Jordan and settled the Promised Land. The first miracle on the river occurred when the Israelites, following Joshua with the Ark of the Covenant, crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
Already in early Christian times, Mary of Egypt, a famous harlot and a great repentant sinner, went to these same places to mourn her sins, who prayed to the Lord for forgiveness for 47 years and ate only leaves and grass.
Every year many pilgrims flock to the holy place. Today, paths have been laid in the excavation area, a place for ablution has been equipped, and a pilgrimage center has been built nearby.
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 noticeable soldiers on the Israeli side—perhaps covert surveillance was being conducted.
From the Jordan side, the place of baptism and ablution can be reached at any time. But there are restrictions on the Israeli side - depending on the military situation, since this is Palestinian territory. They say that on Epiphany and Easter, Jordan opens the border to Israel so that pilgrims can worship the shrines. From the Israeli coast to the Jordan coast is 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 cloudy due to the fast current, which erodes clay and carries silt. But if you put water in a bottle and let it sit for a while, the impurities settle and the water becomes clear.
One of the most famous rivers on the planet is the Jordan River. It was mentioned several times in the Old and New Testaments as a place where miracles occur. Christian pilgrims come here with pleasure, who want to plunge into its waters and receive healing of body and soul.
Geographical position
If you are interested in the question of where and in which country the Jordan River is located, then look at the world map. On it you will see that it flows through the territory of 2 states: and Israel. The river is their natural border, which is conventionally indicated by a rope stretched in the center with yellow floats.
Tourists located on opposite sides of the border are not recommended to communicate with each other, and crossing the line is strictly prohibited. This is carefully monitored by armed border guards, and it should be taken into account that the area here may be mined.
For those pilgrims who are interested in where the Jordan River flows, it should be said that its mouth ends in, and it takes its source at the confluence of 3 reservoirs: Liddani (Dan), Baniasi (Hermon) and Al-Hasbani (Khatsbani Snir ), flowing along the slopes of Mount Hermon. The total length of the river is 251 km.
What is the Jordan River famous for?
If you have read the Bible, you know that miracles have happened here many times:
- the river parted for Joshua, who led the Israelites on their journey;
- The prophets Elisha and Elijah crossed it on dry ground;
- healings of sick pilgrims often took place there.
According to legend, the baptism of Jesus Christ took place in the Jordan River. At this time, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended to people, taking the form of a dove and thus witnessing the messianic mission of the Savior.
Sights of the Jordan River
In 1996, archaeological excavations were carried out in Jordan, as a result of which they discovered on the right bank of the Jordan River. Before this discovery, scientists believed that this event occurred on the side of Israel. Historical place located in the Bethany Valley, in locality Wadi al-Harar. It looks very simple and is now a wooden platform with a small ladder.
By the way, in their research, archaeologists used a mosaic map created in Palestine and dating back to the 6th century. She was found in, in Madaba. Today we are reminded of this event by the base of a square Greek column and the steps that lead to the water. It was these objects that were mentioned in the records of Byzantine pilgrims.
For tourists who want to do unique photos River Jordan, you should visit the ruins of Byzantine temples and a huge font that resembles a swimming pool. They are located on the coast, not far from the baptism site.
Description of the attraction
The Jordan River has a strong current that carries silt and erodes clay, so the water here is brown and cloudy. If you put it in a bottle and let it sit for a while, the impurities will settle and the liquid will become clear.
The pool area is 18 thousand square meters. km, and water consumption is 16 cubic meters. m. per second The depth of the Jordan River is small; in the center it does not exceed 1.5 m. appearance The pond is more like a wide stream. From the Jordanian side, it is almost completely accessible to tourists.
There are 20 species of fish in the Jordan River. The most famous of them is named after St. Peter. It was once prepared for the Savior, and today it is served in local restaurants.
Features of the visit
During the trip to the Jordan River, anyone can perform ablution. To do this, you will need to change into a special white long-skirted shirt (it is better to wear a swimsuit or shorts with a T-shirt underneath). You need to plunge into the water completely 7 times. There is no charge for this here.
You can swim any day, but it is worth considering that a huge number of people come here on Easter and Epiphany. If you believe in the healing power of the Jordan River, then don't forget to bring bottles with you. In its sacred properties, the water is identical to that sold in the church.
How to get there?
From the river you can drive along Jordan Valley Hwy/Road No. 65 or Damascus Hwy. These routes contain private roads with limited traffic. The distance is 165 km.
Jordan is located in the heart of the region most often called the Middle East - at the junction of Eurasia and Africa. Official name countries - Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The country got its name from the Jordan River, which flows along the northern section of the kingdom's western border.
Jordan is a continental state with only one small outlet to the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern tip of the Red Sea, about 26 kilometers long. If you look at detailed map Jordan, you can see that most of its borders are represented by broken straight lines. 90% of its territory is occupied by deserts, in which boundaries are a very tricky and blurry concept.
Jordan on the world map: geography, nature and climate
Jordan is a relatively small state. The total area of the country is about 92,000 km2. It is difficult to name the exact area due to the fact that it increases every year. With the shallowing of the Dead Sea, Jordan is expanding by several square kilometers per year.
The country's largest neighbor is Saudi Arabia, located in the south and southeast of Jordan. The length of their joint borders is 728 km, which is almost half the length of the state border. In the east, the country borders Iraq, and the northern border separates it from Syria. The clearest borders of Jordan are in the west - here they are tied to both the relief and national composition population. The country's western neighbors are Israel and partially recognized Palestine.
Geographical position
Jordan is located in a unique place on the world map. The coast of the Dead Sea, whose waters the country shares with Israel, is the lowest land point on the planet. At the moment, this is 430 meters below sea level, but every year this figure increases by an average of 1 meter.
The territory of Jordan is represented mainly by desert plateaus up to 1200 meters high. Highest point The country is Mount Jabal Umm ad-Dami (1854 m). In the southeast and northeast of the country there are vast regions of the Syrian Desert. The northwestern part of Jordan, fed by the river of the same name, is more suitable for life. There are practically no large permanent lakes and rivers in the country, not counting the salty Dead Sea. Only the Jordan River and its tributaries Yarmouk and Seil ez-Zarqa, often indicated on the map of Jordan in Russian as Yabbok, do not dry out during the season. However big rivers It’s difficult to name them - the width of the Jordan at its largest place does not exceed 40 meters, and the depth rarely reaches 2 meters. In addition, they are actively used in agriculture in Jordan and neighboring countries, which becomes very shallow and pollutes the rivers. The area of the few lakes and reservoirs is rarely more than a few square kilometers.
Animal and plant life
The flora of Jordan is extremely poor, which is typical for a desert state. Grass cover in semi-desert areas appears only with the winter rainy season. Only the northwestern part of the country, which is relatively comfortable in terms of climatic conditions, can boast of shrub vegetation of the Mediterranean type. The fauna of the region is represented by typical desert inhabitants: striped hyenas, steppe lynxes and foxes. It is also possible to encounter several species of gazelle. Among other animals, various lizards and small desert birds are present in abundance.
Climate
Most of the country is in a dry desert sharply continental climate. Only along the western borders is it more similar to the Mediterranean subtropical. Jordan is saved from the unbearable heat by fairly constant westerly winds. But hot air currents from the Arabian Peninsula are not uncommon. The average temperature in the western and northwestern parts of the country in winter rarely drops below 8 0 C, and in summer varies from 25 to 30 0 C. Desert regions, of course, are much hotter. The average annual rainfall in Jordan is extremely low. In the north-west of the country it can still reach 400 mm per year, while in the rest of the territory it will not reach 100 mm.
Map of Jordan with cities. Administrative division of the country
The Kingdom of Jordan is divided into 12 governorates. This is a common administrative-territorial unit in Arab countries. At the same time, up to 85% of Jordan’s population lives in the north-west of the country, and less than 2% of the population live in the largest region of Ma’an, which occupies a third of the country’s area. A map of Jordan with cities in Russian directly demonstrates this classic feature for desert states.
Amman- the capital and largest city of the country. It is home to about 25% of Jordan's residents, and the Amman agglomeration concentrates almost 80% of the country's population. It is a major industrial center in the Middle East, located at one of the key oil transport hubs.
A small town is located 35 kilometers north of the capital Ajlun, famous for the castle Kalat ar-Rabat. This 12th century fortress is considered a gem of Muslim medieval architecture. The largest botanical garden in the region is also located near the city.
Jordan's only port is the city Aqaba. It is both a shopping and tourist centre countries. It is noteworthy that the flag installed in the city port is considered the largest in the world.
Flickr.com, grandpamony
Christians around the world regard the Jordan as sacred river, because Jesus Christ was baptized in its waters. But where this very place is located for certain became known only at the end of the 20th century.
Bethara 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 Bethavara 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 Bethawara was located in Israel, near 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 mosaic image, measuring 15 x 6 meters, dating back to the 6th century AD, is an excellently 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 was not in Israel, but on the opposite bank of the river in the town of Wadi el-Harar (in the territory of modern Jordan).
In addition, in the place where the Baptism ceremony took place 2000 years ago, there is no water at the moment. Over such a huge period of time, the river changed its course as it flowed into the Dead Sea and now flows several tens of meters closer to Israel.
In support of this version, in Wadi el-Harar, in a dry place in 1996, archaeologists discovered the ruins of three Byzantine churches and a marble slab, on which, supposedly, stood a column with a cross, installed during early Christianity at the site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. It is this column that is often mentioned in written sources of pilgrims of the Byzantine era who visited the Holy Places.
After heated debate, scientists around the world and leaders of leading Christian denominations came to the conclusion that Wadi el-Harar is the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River.
Thus, 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 el-Harar is the greatest Christian Shrine.
Russian Orthodox Church in recognition of this fact, she took part in the construction of an Orthodox church in honor of John the Baptist on the territory of Wadi el-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 discovery of this greatest object for the entire Christian world was made possible as a result of the peace agreement signed between Israel and Jordan in October 1994.
Yardenit 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, along almost its entire length from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) to the Dead Sea, represents a natural border between the two states of Israel and Jordan. The border, it must be said, is not always peaceful, and therefore the approaches to the river from both one side and the other are under close surveillance by the military.
For this purpose, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has identified a special place, which is a quiet backwater near the source of the Jordan River from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). In 1981, a special complex for pilgrims, called Yardenit, was built on this site.
According to the Gospel of Mark, at the moment of baptism in the waters of the Jordan River, the 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 when he came out of the water, John immediately saw the heavens opening and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”. (Mark 1:9-11) It is these words, written on the memorial wall in all languages of the world, that greet pilgrims who come here.
The complex is equipped with walking paths, convenient approaches to the water, locker rooms, and showers. In the shops located on the territory of the complex, you can buy or rent pilgrim shirts, buy bottles for Jordanian water, and various souvenirs and cosmetic products from the land of Israel.
At a local restaurant you will definitely be offered to try 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 fishing rod 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 tilapia. Behind the gills of the fish you can still see two dark spots, supposedly marks from the fingers of the Apostle himself.
Every year hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over globe visit the Yardenit complex in Israel. Entire busloads of pilgrims led by priests often arrive to perform the rite of Baptism here.
Very often, pilgrims who have already been baptized before have a question: “Is it possible to undergo 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 occurs only once in the life of a Christian believer. The only exception can be a transition from one denomination to another - in this case, it makes sense to consult with the clergy of one or another denomination.
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 prayer, after which they plunge three times into the waters of the Jordan in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Location: Southern tip of Lake 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 No. 90.
Opening hours:
Monday - Thursday: 08:00 - 18:00,
Friday and holiday eves: 08:00 - 17:00
Free admission. To maintain a godly atmosphere, all visitors are required to have white baptismal robes, which can be purchased ($24) or rented ($10).