Baptism of the Lord on the Jordan River
The high tourist season in Israel is over - now until March you can relax and unwind a little. Not only in body, but also in soul - to travel around the Country when you want, and not when you need to work. Although every trip to ISRAEL is a pleasure for me. After all, Israel is a unique country. There are so many interesting things in Israel that sometimes even experienced guides will learn something new! So I decided to see with my own eyes what is happening on January 18 in Qasr el Yahud. This is a holy place for Christians, called Bethavara in the Orthodox tradition (in Hebrew, Beit ha-avara is the “house of the crossing”). Bethavara is considered the true place of the Baptism of the Lord. Every year on this day, thousands of Orthodox Christians from all over the world gather there.
The trip started early in the morning with boarding a sightseeing bus in Netanya. Then there were technical stops and transfers, as well as a visit to the monastery of St. Gerasim, located 5 minutes before reaching Qasr el Yahud. The life of this saint, who is always depicted with a lion named Jordan devoted to him to death, is interesting. According to the gospel tradition, the Holy Family stopped for the night in a cave located on the territory of the monastery.
In Qasr el Yahud, our bus stopped in front of the monastery of John the Baptist, and we went to the Jordan River. The holiday itself, which includes a service and the rite of blessing the waters of the Jordan River, lasts about an hour. This year it started around noon. Approximately an hour after the service, the Patriarch of Jerusalem descended in procession to the waters of the Jordan. Traditionally, a white dove was released into the air. What was happening below, by the Jordan River, was broadcast on the screen above, where the pilgrims stood. At the end of the solemn part, a part of the people followed the procession of the clergy and assistants holding banners, picking up twigs and leaves of fragrant grass from the ground. After the departure of the Patriarch and the Greek clergy, all pilgrims began to be allowed to the Jordan River. The queue of those wishing to take a bath in the holy waters of the Jordan River was huge. The air temperature on the holiday was +20. The water was quite cold - about 15 degrees. But this did not stop most of the pilgrims. Having crossed themselves, they prayerfully plunged headlong into holy water.
Before bathing, the pilgrims had the opportunity to put on special white shirts in the locker rooms located on the territory of Qasr el Yahud. The organizers, knowing about the large number of people at the festival, also installed an additional tent for changing clothes. Dry closets were also brought and water sales were organized. Some bought bottled drinking water, others drank for free from a drinking water installation located next to the gift shop. You always want to drink in the desert - both in winter and in summer.
The last two people from our group returned to the bus at 15:30. While we were waiting for them, a white dove flew over the bus, and then sat on the barbed wire, behind which there are minefields. The buses began to leave and the Jordan River became quiet and calm - just like it happens there on a normal day.
Qasr el Yahud, though protected, has been open to the public for 5 years. Therefore, anyone who wishes can come there not only on the feast of the Epiphany, but also on any other day.
You can watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=GpQvbIapwbg
