8. Baptism Site
Known as Al-Maghtas (meaning “immersion” and, by extension, “baptism” in Arabic), this place has been considered since Byzantine times as the original location of the baptism of Jesus, the area in which John the Baptist lived and ministered, and also the site of the Ascension of the Prophet Elijan to Heaven. Situated on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, nine kilometres north of the Dead Sea, this archaeological site consists of two areas: Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill) and the area of the churches of St. John the Baptist near the river. In both sites, several Roman and Byzantine remains can be found, including churches, chapels, and the caves hermits used to live in.
+ Les ruines du temple du Ve siècle retrouvées sur les rives du Jourdain côté jordanien. Ce site est maintenant classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco © Jeffrey Bruno/JTB/ALETEIA