The President of the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan, Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, stated that commemorating the bimillenary (2000th anniversary) of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River in 2030 represents a pivotal milestone in consolidating the Kingdom’s position on the global Christian pilgrimage map. This comes as the government proceeds with implementing a package of projects in the lands adjacent to the Baptism Site, with a total cost of approximately $120 million.
اضافة اعلان
The package includes four main projects spanning an area of 1,400 dunams: the Jesus Christ Baptism Museum at a cost of $50 million, an integrated pilgrims and visitors village worth around $40 million, infrastructure works valued at $27 million, in addition to the Green Corridor with an estimated cost of $3 million.
Religious Occasion and a National Project
Archbishop Atallah noted that the occasion extends beyond hosting a celebration in 2030 to launching a sustainable path for Christian pilgrimage that enhances Jordan’s presence as an essential part of the Holy Land. He pointed out that the initiative originated in Jordan and received the support of King Abdullah II, who directed the government to adopt and prepare for it.
He added that the preparations reflect a partnership between the state and the churches, carrying a message showcasing Jordan’s model of coexistence and the preservation of religious and human heritage. At the same time, he emphasized the necessity of keeping the spiritual dimension and the sanctity of the site at the core of all development efforts.
He stressed that the challenge lies not merely in organizing a global celebration in 2030, but in transforming the occasion into a launchpad for a sustainable pilgrimage movement—where religious, cultural, and educational programs continue, cementing the presence of Jordanian Christian sites in the hearts of Christians worldwide.
Four Projects for the Baptism Site
The government signed agreements at the Prime Ministry to execute the main projects within the national development project for the lands adjacent to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. This followed the first meeting of the high-level national committee preparing for the anniversary, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan.
The Jesus Christ Baptism Museum will be built on an area of 5,500 square meters to offer a cultural experience narrating the story of the Baptism Site along with its religious and historical dimensions. Meanwhile, the Pilgrims and Visitors Village will feature reception plazas, a visitor center, a hotel, restaurants, retail shops, a church, and service facilities.
As for the Green Corridor, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is designing it with the aim of protecting biodiversity, enhancing vegetation cover, and establishing walking trails, in alignment with UNESCO recommendations to preserve the Baptism Site, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The infrastructure works encompass main roads, water, desalination, and irrigation networks, electricity, solar energy, street lighting, and necessary supporting services to serve the site and its visitors.
According to the timeline, preliminary works for both the museum and the integrated pilgrims and visitors village will begin at the end of the first quarter of 2027, with main construction starting at the end of the second quarter of the same year. Both projects are scheduled for completion during the first quarter of 2029.
Millions of Pilgrims
The Director General of the Catholic Studies and Media Center, Father Rif'at Bader, said that Jordan is preparing to welcome millions of pilgrims from across the globe at the Baptism Site in 2030, noting that the new projects will complete the religious and spiritual image of the site while providing necessary services for visitors.
He explained that the existing churches at the Baptism Site—including the Grand Latin Church inaugurated in January of last year—formed an essential part of completing the site’s religious landscape, whereas the new projects will provide facilities to receive, accommodate, and serve pilgrims.
Father Bader noted that the planned hotels will not be high-rise or luxurious, but rather modest facilities that respect the sanctity and environment of the place, allowing pilgrims to stay near the churches and continue their religious programs.
He highlighted that a significant responsibility rests upon the relevant authorities to market the site and Jordan, emphasizing the crucial role of local churches in building bridges with churches in the West and encouraging believers to visit the Kingdom.
High-Level National Reference Committee
To organize preparations, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan directed all government and official entities to consolidate all communications and tasks related to the Baptism of Jesus Christ through the high-level national committee, designating it as the sole reference authority for this purpose.
The committee is responsible for setting general directives and policies, overseeing planning and preparation for celebrations, approving strategic plans and monitoring their implementation, as well as coordinating national efforts with local and international partners.
Hassan chaired the committee’s first meeting, which comprises ministers, religious and community leaders, and representatives of relevant stakeholders—a step reflecting the Kingdom’s emphasis on the event as an opportunity to reinforce its standing as a premier global destination for religious tourism and pilgrimage.
Enhancing the Pilgrim Experience
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Emad Hijazeen stated that four years is not a long time to prepare for such an event, noting that efforts are focused on developing a roadmap covering infrastructure at the Baptism Site and other locations along the tourist and pilgrim itinerary.
The plan encompasses enhancing the visitor experience starting from the inquiry and booking phase prior to arriving in Jordan, up to digital services and information available at the Baptism Site. It also addresses the specific needs of pilgrims, including prayer areas, candle lighting, and other requirements associated with religious programs.
Hijazeen added that the government is working to link local communities surrounding religious and tourist sites with the tourism product, turning the project into a tool for local development, alongside organizing events and exhibitions to showcase the history of Christianity in Jordan and promote the Kingdom abroad.
From the Baptism Site to a Broader Religious Trail
Jordan’s vision is not limited to the Baptism Site alone. Archbishop Atallah noted that the pilgrim’s journey is expected to extend to other religious sites, including Madaba, Mount Nebo, Machaerus (Mkawer), and the Site of the Prophet Elijah (Tell Mar Elias), presenting a comprehensive narrative of Christianity’s history in Jordan.
Hijazeen stated that Jordan will be presented as an integrated destination rather than a single site, noting that the itinerary will include Petra, Madaba, Ajloun, Um Qais, Rehman, Um al-Jimal, and other sites of high religious and historical value.
This comes as part of an effort to transform the 2030 commemoration into a platform to highlight the Kingdom's Christian and archaeological sites and boost religious tourism, rather than limiting attention strictly to the celebration period itself.
International Promotion
Father Bader pointed to Vatican interest in the Jordanian preparations, explaining that Vatican media outlets covered the announcement of the preparatory committee's formation, while the newspaper L'Osservatore Romano published a full page on the project, and Vatican websites reported news about it in 15 languages.
Jordanian churches seek to connect with their counterparts worldwide to raise awareness about the site and encourage pilgrimage, alongside spiritual, pastoral, cultural, and media programs that have already begun preparation, according to Archbishop Atallah.
Archbishop Atallah believes the ambition is for millions of Christians around the world to know that the Baptism of Jesus Christ took place in Jordan, making a visit to the Baptism Site a dream for every Christian believer, with the year 2030 marking the beginning of a pilgrimage movement that continues long after the celebrations conclude.
Investing in Knowledge
Among the proposed projects and ideas to strengthen the scientific and cultural dimension, Archbishop Atallah pointed to the possibility of the International Orthodox Baptism University playing a role in conveying the message of the Holy Land to the world, considering that investing in knowledge and human resources is no less important than developing infrastructure.
Through these preparations, the Kingdom seeks to strike a balance between preserving the sanctity and religious and human heritage of the Baptism Site, and developing the infrastructure and services required to receive large numbers of pilgrims, while linking the site to a broader tourist and religious trail that benefits local communities.
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