Traditional celebration of the Baptism of Christ at Jordan River | Shalom World News
Each year, as the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, the Christian community of the Holy Land gather along the banks of the Jordan River, retracing the sacred steps of Jesus as he was baptized by Saint John the Baptist. This time-honored celebration, woven into the fabric of Church history, marks the close of the Christmas season and invites both faithful and pilgrims to reflect on the profound meaning of their own baptism. The ceremony unfolds at Qasr al-Yahud, a site on the western bank of the Jordan near Jericho, revered by tradition as the exact spot where Jesus immersed himself in the river. Today, the site welcomes pilgrims from near and far, setting the stage for vibrant processions and liturgies that unite friars, local believers, and visitors from parishes in Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Beit Hanina.