Qasr al-Yahud (lit. "The tower of the Jews") is the official name of a baptism
site in the Jordan River Valley in the West Bank.
It is the western part of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John
the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17), in Arabic Al-Maghtas, a name which was
historically used for the pilgrimage site on both sides of the river. It is
also traditionally considered to be the place where the Israelites crossed the
Jordan River, and the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.
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Sign announcing the Baptismal Site (Qasr al-Yahud).
The Arabic name of the baptism site is Al-Maghtas meaning "immersion"
and, by extension, "baptism", used for an area stretching over both
banks of the river.
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The Jordanian side uses the names Al-Maghtas, Bethany beyond the
Jordan and Baptism(al) Site, while the western part is known as Qasr
al-Yahud.
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The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is a major event in the life
of Jesus which is described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New
Testament (Matthew, Mark and Luke), in which John baptized Jesus with
water and laying on of hands (Hebrews 6:2) to fulfill all
righteousness (Matthew 3:15).
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See more at
Baptism of Jesus - Wikipedia.
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Monastery of St John the Baptist.
The nearby Greek Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist has a
castle-like appearance (thus qasr, "castle"), and tradition holds
that the Israelites crossed the river at this spot (thus
al-Yahud, "of the Jews").
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Steps leading down to the Jordan River.
The western side attracts larger tourist interest than its Jordanian
counterpart, with half a million visitors compared to some ten thousand
on the Jordanian side.
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In the millennium year 2000, John Paul II was the first pope to visit
the site.[44] His two successors, popes Benedict XVI and Pope Francis,
also visited the site, as have a number of heads of state and other
dignitaries.
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Jordan River.
The Jordan River or River Jordan is a 251-kilometre-long (156 mi) river
in the Middle East that flows roughly north to south through the Sea of
Galilee and on to the Dead Sea. Jordan and the Golan Heights border the
river to the east, while Palestine's West Bank and Israel lie to its
west.
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The river holds major significance in Judaism and Christianity.
According to the Bible, the Israelites crossed it into the Promised
Land and Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist in it.
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See more at
Jordan River - Wikipedia.
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See also
Source
Location
