Foundation stone laid for a new Syriac Orthodox church of St. John The Baptist, in Jordan, at the Christ’s Baptism site

Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch

JORDAN – Saturday Feb 13, 2010: Foundation stone for a new Syrian Orthodox church in the name of Saint John the Baptist was laid on the baptism site of our Lord Jesus in Jordan by the Patriarchal Vicar of Holy Land His Eminence Mor Severius Malki Murad, in the presence of a large gathering of the Syriac church from Amman, Irbid, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Diaspora.

His Eminence bishop Mor Severius Malki Murad confirmed that the originality and sanctity of this site are proved by certificates of the sacred books, archaeological monuments, historical sayings of travelers and pilgrims who have visited this royal site. This is the place where Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John the Baptist.

His Eminence thanked the Majesty King Abdullah II for his initiative to allocate parts of the soaked land for the Christian churches. His Eminence also indicated and confirmed the keenness of His Majesty of the Islamic-Christian coexistence in Jordan until this very day, and the participation of life among all the population is like one family of Jordan.

It is worthy to mention that the design of the church depends on the original architecture of the East, such as those harmony in the natural environment for the Baptism Site. Further the building of unique churches with the architectural design on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, is witness to the challenge and as well as proof of the faithful people to the natural forces for building a church after another in the spot where they believe that Jesus was baptized in this site for it becomes a shrine for pilgrims from all over the world.

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