Catholics Celebrate Epiphany At Baptism Site On The Jordan River

TAL EL-KHARRAR, JORDAN- JANUARY 12: Hendrik van de Velde (2nd L), Belgium ambassador to Jordan and wife (C), and Italian ambassador to Jordan Giovanni Brauzzi (R) attend a mass with Jordanian and foreign Christian worshippers at the Jesus Christ Baptism site at the eastern bank of The Jordan River on January 12, 2018 in Tal el-Kharrar, Jordan. More than 5000 pilgrims on friday attended a mass held by Pierbattista Pizzaballa, titular Archbishop of Verbe and an Apostolic Administrator of Jerusalem. The Baptism Site "Bethany beyond the Jordan"(Al-Maghtas in Arabic) is located in the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea. The site contains two distinct archaeological areas, Tell el-Kharrar, also known as Jabal Mar Elias, and the area of the Churches of St. John the Baptist. "Bethany beyond the Jordan"is of immense religious significance to the majority of denominations of Christian faith, who have accepted this site as the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptised by John the Baptist. At present, the site has regained a popular status as pilgrimage destination for Christians, who continue to engage in baptism rituals on site. ( Photo by Salah Malkawi/ Getty Images)