BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN
The site, acknowledged both in the Bible and Byzantine and
Medieval texts, has been identified to extend from Tell al –Kharrar (Elijah’s
Hill/Tall Mar Elias in Arabic) to the John the Baptist Church Area, on the
eastern bank of the river Jordan. Tell al –Kharrar is the same place from which
Elijah is believed to have ascended to heaven in w whirlwind on a chariot of
fire.
Though Jesus Christ’s divinity was acknowledged before his
birth, he din’t launch his public ministry at Bethany Beyond the Jordan until
the age of 30. During his 3 day stay at Bethany, Jesus prayed to God for the
first time and gathered his first disciples –Simon, Peter, Andrew, Philip and
Nathanael.
Bethany formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route
between Jerusalem, the Jordan River and Mount Nebo .
Today, the area’s Arabic name
is al Maghtas-The Place of Baptism .In 1996, stunning archaeological
discoveries identified this as the exact site where John had been living and
carrying out his baptisms. Pottery, coins, stone objects and architectural
remains confirm the site was used in the early 1st century AD,
during the time of Jesus and John.
The 3rd century Roman building , decorated with
mosaics, is believed to be an early Christian “Prayer Hll”-Probably the earliest
building for this specific use to have been identified anywhere in the world.
Closer to the Jordan River are the remains of 5 memorial
churches built by early believers.
Records
of such churches remained throughout the Islamic periods –a sign of
continued Christian –Muslim coexistence in Jordan. Pope John Paul II visited
Bethany Beyond the Jordan during his March 2000 pilgrimage to Jordan and the
Holy Land and it was designated as a Jubilee Year 2000 pilgrimage site by
Catholic Church in the Middle East ,along with Mount Nebo, Mukawir , Tall Mar
Elias and Anjara.
DIRECTIONS:
Take the Dead Sea Highway. When you reach the Suwaymeh
Intersection, take a right turn northbound, following the signs to the site. Bethany
is around 45 minutes away from Amman.
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