On the banks of the Jordan River in this peaceful settlement – one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the last century, identified as the biblical location where John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized – several thousand Christian faithful gathered on Friday, January 12 to commemorate the baptism of Jesus.

Participating Church Officials in the ceremony included His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Latin Bishop of Amman Salim Sayegh; Roman Catholic Bishop George Murr; and Armenian Orthodox Bishop Vahan Toblian. The celebration brought together members of the Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Anglican, Evangelical, Lutheran, Chaldean, Maronite, and Copt Churches.

Epiphany – from the Greek “Epiphaneia” for “to make known” or “manifestation” – is a season of light on the Christian calendar. Most Orthodox use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar, so dates for Christmas and Epiphany, which falls 12 days after the nativity and is the climax of the Christmas season, vary according to traditions. In western Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. Also known as Three Kings’ Day in Hispanic and Latin culture, as well as some places in Europe, it is an occasion of feasting, which sometimes includes the baking of a special King’s Cake.

While some Greek Orthodox churches still observe the Epiphany celebration as the Nativity of Jesus, the majority of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches focus on the visit of the Magi and Jesus’ baptism. The Feast of the Epiphany was established as a solemn feast in the Eastern Church in the middle of the fourth century, as proclaimed in the Apostolic Constitutions: “Let the Epiphany, in which the Lord manifested to us His own divinity, be to you the most honored festival and let it be celebrated on the sixth day of January.” (cf Apostolic Constitutions V, 13) Traditionally, celebrations have included a vigil; a Solemn Blessing of the Water; and baptism of catechumens – or converts being instructed in the faith – on the eve of the Epiphany. Early fathers of the Church referred to this as the Mystery of the Illumination or Enlightenment, thus the Epiphany also became known as the Feast of the Lights, or the Day of Illumination. The Feast is also known in the East as Theophany, Greek for “God’s appearance,” and the early church marked this feast by baptizing catechumens in great numbers.

Jesus’ baptism in the waters of the Jordan at the location of this celebration, marked the first recorded manifestation of the Trinity – the central tenet of the Christian faith – hence Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan has been called the birthplace of Christianity. Located less than an hours drive from Amman and minutes from the Dead Sea, the baptism site has become a must-see for visitors to the Holy Land. The Baptism Site Commission has worked closely with Church officials to ensure the protection and integrity of this sacred place, while opening it up to pilgrims from around the world.