Al-Maghtas, the ancient site of Jesus’ baptism “beyond the Jordan,” reveals deep spiritual, historical, and archaeological roots of Christianity.
Newsroom (11/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) On the banks of the River Jordan, where the dry desert meets the sacred waters, lies Bethany Beyond the Jordan—known in Arabic as Al-Maghtas, meaning “baptism” or “immersion.” It is here, according to the Gospel of John, that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist: “This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” For centuries, Christians have venerated this site as one of the holiest in the world—a physical and spiritual place where heaven and earth once touched.
Rediscovering the Sacred Ground
Early Christian writers such as Origen and John Chrysostom emphasized that this Bethany was distinct from the one near the Mount of Olives. Known in antiquity as Bethabara, the name appears in ancient manuscripts of the Gospel of John and on the sixth-century Madaba mosaic map, marking it as the location of Jesus’ baptism. Even the Talmud references Bethabara, underscoring the site’s early recognition across faiths and regions.
For centuries, despite persecution and the absence of official churches, early Christians preserved memories of the sacred places tied to the life of Jesus. When Emperor Anastasius I Dicorus ruled between the late 5th and early 6th centuries, he commissioned the first church dedicated to John the Baptist at Al-Maghtas. It stood as a testament to faith carved into the fragile banks of the Jordan. Though floods and earthquakes reduced the original structure to ruins, its significance remained indelible.
A pilgrim named Theodosius, writing around the year 530, described what he saw at the site: “Five miles north of the Dead Sea, at the place where the Lord was baptized, there stands a solitary column, on which an iron cross is fixed; there is also the church of Saint John the Baptist, built by Emperor Anastasius.” His words evoke an image of devotion deep in the wilderness, where faith was both lived and built upon shifting sands.
The Archaeology of Faith
Archaeological excavations at Al-Maghtas reveal layers of worship that span centuries. Researchers have uncovered the remnants of multiple structures: basilicas, hermits’ caves, chapels, and even a cross-shaped baptistery—symbolizing the intersection of faith and history. Among these, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity stood out, commemorating the divine revelation during Jesus’ baptism: the voice of the Father, the presence of the Son, and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
Though little remains of the basilica today, its monumental scale—a hall 27 meters long and more than 15 meters wide—speaks to the site’s former splendor. Together, these ruins compose an enduring mosaic of spiritual memory, each stone marking centuries of prayer and pilgrimage.
Not far from the baptism site, excavations have unearthed Tell al-Kharrar, or Elijah’s Hill (Jabal Mar Elias), traditionally linked to the prophet Elijah. Here, Byzantine monks built a monastery in his honor, reinforcing the sacred connection between prophecy and fulfillment, Old Testament expectation and New Testament revelation.
UNESCO Recognition and Global Reverence
In 2015, UNESCO inscribed “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” on its World Heritage List, acknowledging its “immense religious significance to the majority of Christian denominations.” The designation cited its continuity of faith—how monks, hermits, pilgrims, and priests across 1,000 years left behind traces of devotion in the desert, shaping one of the world’s most profound pilgrimage destinations.
For modern believers, Al-Maghtas stands as a living testament to unity in diversity—a crossroads for Christian traditions from across the world and a spiritual bridge linking history to living faith.
The Pilgrimage of Popes
In recent decades, Al-Maghtas has drawn three Popes—each emphasizing continuity, reconciliation, and peace. Pope John Paul II made his pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year 2000, the first ever papal visit to the site. Pope Benedict XVI followed in 2009, blessing the construction of a church commemorating Christ’s baptism. Pope Francis, in 2014, visited refugees and the ill sheltered in Jordan, symbolizing the living Gospel of compassion rooted in this holy site.
The most recent chapter in this sacred story came in January 2025, when the Church of the Baptism of the Lord was solemnly consecrated—the largest Catholic church in Jordan. Representing Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, presided over the ceremony. Surrounding it now stand churches of multiple denominations—a visible testament to the ecumenical spirit of Bethany Beyond the Jordan.
A Testament Across Time
At Bethany Beyond the Jordan, history and faith converge in one of Christianity’s most sacred waterscapes. From the early hermits and Byzantine builders to the pilgrims who still kneel on its ancient stones, Al-Maghtas is more than an archaeological site—it is a living witness to the enduring call of baptism itself: a passage from the desert to divine life.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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