Christian leaders in Jordan on Wednesday established "beyond doubt"
that the country hosts the holy site where Jesus Christ was baptized by
John the Baptist on the east bank of River Jordan.
They
denied an Israeli claim that Jesus Christ was baptized on the west bank
of River Jordan at what had come to be called the Judith Church, which
was recently renamed as "Baptism Church" by the Israelis.
"There is no doubt that Jesus Christ had been baptised on the east bank
of River Jordan and that the site was honoured by Christians from the
early days of Christianity and still so until nowadays," said a
statement issued by leaders of churches in Jordan.
They
pointed out that they decided this fact in accordance with biblical
texts, Christian traditions, excavations as well as testimonies and
writings by many pilgrims who visited the area since the second century.
Similar remarks were issued on Monday by the Orthodox churches of
the East which met at the baptism site, about 25 miles west of Amman, in
response to an invitation by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.
The Rev. Nabil Haddad, president of the Jordan Interfaith
Coexistence Research Centre, said during the meeting that all Christian
religious leaders considered Jordan's baptism site as "the actual place
where Christ was baptized, which affirms its authenticity and refutes
Israeli allegations that claim otherwise".
Jordanian Interior
Minister Mazen Saket said earlier this week that the baptism site was
recognized by several top Christian leaders and historians.
He pointed out that the site was inaugurated by the late Pope John Paul
II in 2000 and was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his pilgrimage to
the Holy Land in 2009.
"We were shocked in Jordan to see the
Israelis inaugurating a new site on the west bank of River Jordan and
naming it the Baptism Church despite well-known historical and religious
facts," Saket said.