Baptisms in the River Jordan

For Christians, being baptized at the site where Jesus was
immersed is a meaningful experience  (Taylor)

YARDENIT, ISRAEL — One of the great joys of travel is having an experience that is completely out of the realm of your every day routine. Whether it is joining in with locals at the Palio horse race in Siena, Italy or kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland or racing through the Channel Tunnel at 186-miles an hour, the memories last forever.

Visitors to the Holy Land travel there to see sights and shrines that have been a part of their lives since the day they were born. Christians, Jews and Muslims share many of the same stories and locations regardless of their beliefs.

Nearly half a million people from around the world come each
year for the baptismal ceremony  (wikipedia)

For Christians, the two most popular destinations are Bethlehem where Christ was born and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where he is believed to have been buried before the resurrection.

But there's a third locale which brings more than half a million travelers and pilgrims each year to celebrate a ritual that is truly meaningful for everyone who participates. The site is Yardenit, situated at the entrance to Kibbutz Kinneret where the Southern tip of the Sea of Galilee flows into the River Jordan.

Taking the waters
(Taylor)

The attraction? The opportunity to be baptized in the waters where Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.

Built with the blessing and help of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel in 1981, Yardenit was established to offer a haven and sanctuary for visitors wishing to be baptized in the River Jordan. Founded in 1913 by immigrants from Eastern Europe, Kinneret is the second oldest kibbutz in Israel.

Upon arrival, one of the first things visitors experience at Yardenit is a verse from the Gospel of Mark describing the baptism of Christ in hand painted tiles by Armenian artist Hagop Antreasssian. The "Wall of New Life", written in over 80 languages and dialects reads:

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven; ‘Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11

Like the Ganges in India, the River Jordan is considered one of the world's most sacred rivers, for different reasons, of course. It is mentioned approximately 175 times in the Old Testament and about 15 times in the New Testament.

The source of the River Jordan near the Syrian border  (Taylor)

"Jordan" is derived from the Hebrew word "Yarden" which means "descender." "Yardenit" translates to mean "little Jordan River."

Named after the Sea of Galilee, nearby Kibbutz Kinneret operates the baptismal site where entry is free for all who wish to watch and/or participate. There are also several quiet areas for meditations, prayers and contemplation.

Watching and waiting
(Taylor)

Other than the infrastructure for viewing and crowd maintenance, the banks of the river are as pastoral and serene as they would have been 2000 years ago where tranquil greenery and wildlife abound. Playful Otters are frequent visitors to the river without intruding upon the rituals at hand.

In addition, there are handrails and wheelchair accessible ramps leading into the river and the river is constantly monitored for water quality and safety.

Of course, there are gift shops and places for food and, though the baptisms are free, there are small charges for some facilities and services. For example, participants are required to wear special white robes, which can be rented or purchased at the site.

Dressing rooms are available and swim suits or other clothing can be worn under the robe, but participants must don the robe in order to take part in the rite.

Yardenit is a quiet place where solitude is ideal atmosphere
(Taylor)

Groups are commonplace at Yardenit, and many guests wish to have a priest perform the ceremony. The kibbutz has no resident clergy on site, however there are local priests available who can perform the services upon request.

The Jordan was a relatively desolate area for centuries, which made adventurous travelers even more appreciative of the opportunity to experience one of the great moments in religious history.

Bethlehem is the most visited
site for Americans (Taylor)

In 1932, with the construction of the Naharayim hydraulic plant which harnessed the Yarnukh and Jordan Rivers for electricity, the area underwent a dramatic change that allowed the Yardenit site to be constructed.

Despite that, as with so many things in the Middle East, the Yardenit baptismal site is not without controversy.

For obvious reasons, Israel has long maintained that Jesus was baptized on the Israeli side of the river rather than the opposite shore which is the country of Jordan. Thanks to archaeological research, scholars are increasingly leaning toward the Jordanian site rather than that of Israel.

In fact, when Pope Francis visited the Holy Land last year, he purposely held a Mass at the Jordanian location, which added credibility to the claim.

Dhows still ply the waters of the Sea of Galilee much as they
did in the time of Jesus Christ  (Taylor)

Though a predominantly Muslim country, Jordan relies heavily on tourism revenue for its economy. Because the baptism of Jesus is generally considered the beginning of Christ's ministry, Jordan has even gone so far as to use the slogan "Jordan, the birthplace of Christianity." 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the second most visited
site by Christians in the Holy Land  (Taylor)

The primary baptismal site for Jordan is just downriver from Yardenit where the river widens. There is also slightly better access to the waters for those who wish to be baptized at that location.

Renewing faith  (wikimedia)

One other important difference is the baptismal font which has been restored in Jordan for those who prefer to be sprinkled rather than totally immersed.

Whether you choose Israel or Jordan, the River Jordan baptism is a truly unique experience provided, that is, that you can look beyond the presence of soldiers from each country standing guard as pilgrims sing hymns, pray and get baptized in the holy waters that flow into the Dead Sea.