Yardenit (Hebrew: ירדנית), also known as the Yardenit Baptismal Site, is a baptism site located along the Jordan River in the Galilee region of northern Israel, which is frequented by Christian pilgrims. The site is located south of the river's outlet from the Sea of Galilee, near Kibbutz Kvutzat Kinneret, which owns and manages the site.
History
editAccording to Christian tradition, the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17) took place in Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas), north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho. For centuries, al-Maghtas was the most important baptism site for pilgrims, and monasteries and guest houses were established near it. Today in Jordan, Al-Maghtas shows early religious structures connected with baptism or religious baths.[1]
Since the Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the west margin of the Jordan river, including the area immediately opposite the Jordanian site, known as Qasr al-Yahud. Due to military activity and excavations in that area of the West Bank, however, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism established Yardenit in 1981 as an alternative pilgrimage site.[2] Yardenit became the first regulated baptism site in Israel. [3][4]
Yardenit thus attracted pilgrims and a visitor center was built.[5]
Gallery
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Entrance plaque
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New Testament verse about the baptism of Jesus
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Baptism ceremony at Yardenit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Mohammad Waheeb: The Discovery of Bethany Beyond the Jordan River (Wadi Al- Kharrar) Dirasat Human and Social Sciences, Volume 35, No.1, 2008- 115 -
- ^ Gaffey, Conor (2015-07-14). "Jordan and Palestine dispute Jesus's baptism site after Unesco designation". Newsweek. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
- ^ Stourton, Edward (2009-09-15). "Baptism battles on River Jordan". BBC. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
- ^ Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Rough Guide. 1998. p. 214. ISBN 1858282489.
- ^ Bar-Am, Aviva, Shmuel (2019-02-08). "Immerse yourself in purity on the Jordan River shore". The Times Of Israel. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
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