&
Qasr el Yahud
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Kasser Al Yahud (Castle of the Jews)
Baptismal Site.
Jordan River, Israel.
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, & Information.
Audrey DeLange
November 1999.
Google Map To Yardenit Baptismal Site, Jordan River, Israel.
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| Yardenit Baptismal Site. Jordan River, Israel. Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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| The "Real" "Traditional Spot" Where The New Testament Narrative Of The Baptism Of Jesus Took Place (Matthew, 3: 13-17). Qasr el Yahud or Kasser Al Yahud (Castle of the Jews) Baptism Site, Jordan River Valley, Israel. Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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The Jordan River is the major river of ancient Israel. Its source begins at Banias in the foothills of Mount Hermon, it then runs south along a crack in the earth's surface called the Syro-African fault, where two tectonic plates meet. It is derived from the Hebrew words (Yarden from the verb root word Yarod, meaning to descend). The source of water for the Jordan River is the Sea of Galilee (Kineret). It is bordered with trees and shrubs, such as, Apple of Sodom, Tamarisk, Rhododendron, and Angus Castus. It contains twenty-two species of fish. The Jordan River is more than thirteen miles in length and a bridge, which connects Damascus to Galilee, crosses it. The river floods occur from February to May. The Jordan River ends in the Dead Sea. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptize by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6). Jesus Christ traveled south to Jordan River to meet John the Baptist who was baptizing in the Jordan river all who would come and repent of their sins. Jesus Christ was then baptized in the Bethany across the Jordan River (John 1.28). Natural water no longer flows along most of the Jordan river. The northern part of the river, between the Sea of Galilee and the meeting of the Jordan and Yarmukh, where the Yardenit Baptismal Site is located, is the only place where it is still possible to be baptized in the flowing water of the Jordan river. Today Pilgrims to the Holy Land visit the Baptismal Site (Yardenit) and be baptized in the waters of the Jordan. The Yardenit Baptismal Site is located at the southern exit of the Sea of Galilee, just behind the gate of the Dam that is used on rainy winters to lower the level of the lake. The baptism site has a large parking lot, convenient dressing rooms, stairway to walk down into the waters, a restaurant and a shop. The Google Map is centered on the Yardenit Baptismal Site.
NOTE
According to Christian tradition, the baptism of Jesus (Matthew, 3: 13-17) actually took place in Qasr el Yahud, north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho. For centuries, Qasr al Yahud was the most important baptism site for pilgrims, and monasteries and guest houses were established near it. After the Six-Day War Qasr el Yahud became a frontier area, located on the border between the state of Israel and Jordan. As a result, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism decided to establish Yardenit in 1981 as a replacement site. As a result, "Yardenit" became the only regulated baptism site on the Israeli side of the river, until the reopening of Qasr el Yahud site in 2010. The Yardenit Baptismal Site currently averages 400,000 visitors each year representing all faiths. Qasr el Yahud or Kasser Al Yahud or the (Castle of the Jews) is baptism site in the Jordan River Valley in Israel. It is the traditional spot where the New Testament narrative of the baptism of Jesus took place (Matthew, 3: 13-17). According to tradition, it is also the place where the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River and Elijah the Prophet ascended to heaven. The site includes marble steps that descend into the Jordan River as well as ruins of Byzantine and Crusader churches. It reopened on about July 24, 2010 after being closed for 44 years. The restoration project was approved before the millennium celebrations but was delayed due to the Intifada and flooding in the region in 2003. It is administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. About a half mile distance seperates the two sites.
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The easy way to get to Jerusalem, is to fly into the Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport is close to Jerusalem, which is about 5 miles away. The Ben Gurion International Airport, (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG), also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag, is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel. It was named the best airport in the Middle East by the ACI organisation.[ The airport is located near the city of Lod, 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv. It is operated by the Israel Airports Authority, a government-owned corporation that manages all public airports and border crossings in the State of Israel. The Ben Gurion International Airport is considered one of the world's most secure airports, with a security force that includes both police officers and IDF soldiers. There are several hotels in or near Jerusalem. There are several Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, and historical tours of Jerusalem, Israel and the surrounding areas. After arranging your flight we would suggest getting your hotel and then letting them arrange tours of the area for you. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. I do this all the time. It is safe and it works!!! I have never experienced a problem doing it this way! I have links to Priceline.Com on our page so that you can arrange your flight and hotel in the Jerusalem, Israel area.
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| Yardenit Baptismal Site. | Jordan River. |
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| Yardenit Baptismal Site. | Yardenit Baptismal Site. |
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| Wall Inscription (Mark 1:9-11). Describing Baptism Of Jesus Christ. | Wall Inscription (Mark 1:9-11). Describing Baptism Of Jesus Christ. |
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