Baptism of the Lord - GiottoSource: Latin Patriarchate of JerusalemOn January 10 and 12, 2020, pilgrims in the Holy Land made their annual pilgrimage to the Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas) on the west and east banks of the Jordan River, to commemorate the Baptism of the Lord. Twenty years ago, on January 7, the first ceremony took place at Elijah's Hill, where 2000 prayer candles were lit on this occasion. In July 2015, the site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site named: Baptism Site 'Bethany Beyond the Jordan' (Al-Maghtas). According to the official website of the Baptism Site, 12 churches will eventually be present in the area, as construction on the Syriac, Lutheran and Maronite Churches has not started yet. Jordan's Baptism Site is one of five locations in Jordan that were recognized by the Vatican as pilgrimage sites.

Source: Ethiopian News January 14, 2020 12:22 UTC