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Several major Christian sites are undergoing ambitious restoration projects in the country, which also recently inaugurated a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan is not always thought of when it comes to pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Yet the Hashemite Kingdom, with its varied landscapes, whether desert, mountainous or verdant, is home to many historical sites of great importance to Christians. Indeed, it was there that Christ received his baptism, that St. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded on the orders of King Herod Antipas, and where, centuries before the birth of Jesus, Moses saw the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before dying.
These priceless locales of biblical episodes have been, together with a number of other important Christian sites, the object of particular attention from the country’s authorities in recent years. These Jordanian officials are seeking to enhance the Christian heritage treasures through a series of ambitious renovation and development projects for which they are providing the lion’s share of funding, hoping to promote quality Christian tourism and thereby boost their nation’s economy — of which tourism represents about 30% and which has been has significantly affected by the recent COVID health crisis.
Located in the Middle East, bordering Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, this Arabic-speaking land once trodden by Christ saw the birth of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Christians in Jordan have made few headlines in the West in recent years because, unlike their brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syria and Palestine, they enjoy a stable political situation and a relatively favorable environment, despite the challenges posed by their very small minority position in this country, which is approximately 96% Muslim.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan is not always thought of when it comes to pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Yet the Hashemite Kingdom, with its varied landscapes, whether desert, mountainous or verdant, is home to many historical sites of great importance to Christians. Indeed, it was there that Christ received his baptism, that St. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded on the orders of King Herod Antipas, and where, centuries before the birth of Jesus, Moses saw the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before dying.
These priceless locales of biblical episodes have been, together with a number of other important Christian sites, the object of particular attention from the country’s authorities in recent years. These Jordanian officials are seeking to enhance the Christian heritage treasures through a series of ambitious renovation and development projects for which they are providing the lion’s share of funding, hoping to promote quality Christian tourism and thereby boost their nation’s economy — of which tourism represents about 30% and which has been has significantly affected by the recent COVID health crisis.
Located in the Middle East, bordering Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, this Arabic-speaking land once trodden by Christ saw the birth of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Christians in Jordan have made few headlines in the West in recent years because, unlike their brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syria and Palestine, they enjoy a stable political situation and a relatively favorable environment, despite the challenges posed by their very small minority position in this country, which is approximately 96% Muslim.
Continued below.
Jordanian Government Launches Series of Projects to Promote Christian Tourism
Several major Christian sites are undergoing ambitious restoration projects in the country, which also recently inaugurated a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
