DAY 16 - EASTER Sunday at the River Jordan

EASTER 2017 - a Dream Come True!

Look close and you'll see the River Jordan - REALLY?  I believe it's been shrinking!

This is a shelter over the remains of a church at Jesus' Baptism Site - so exciting!

A scholar from Jerusalem discovered the Madaba Map [in Madaba present day Jordan], in 1897. This map was a 6^th century Mosaic depicting a map of the Middle East in the 6^th Century. The discovery and subsequent analysis of the map led to a renewed interest about the exact location of the Baptism Site. Pilgrims started to return to the area east of the River Jordan hoping to find clues to the location of the site.


Excavations at Bethany Beyond the Jordan began only 20 years ago, in 1996.

The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the act that launched Jesus’ public ministry, most likely took place on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, in a riverbed called the Wadi Al-Kharrar.

On one site near the river Jordan, mosaic remains were found; then marble remains; then more remains. In total, the remains of five different churches, built at separate times, were found. Why were churches built on this spot in particular on five different occasions? 

Here the remains of more than 20 Christian sites have been discovered, including several churches, a prayer hall, baptismal pools and a sophisticated water system. These date back to the Roman and Byzantine periods.

We'll never forget this special Easter Sunday, will we, cousin John?

A mural depicting the Pope's visit to this area

Piers for arches on which one of the churches of Bethany Beyond Jordan was built

World War I, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, World War II, and then the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict with wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973 made the Baptism Site a no-go area for most of the century.

One of the churches appears to have been built around a natural cave containing fresh spring water — possibly the cave that Byzantine pilgrims called “the cave of John the Baptist”.

Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist at Bethany Beyond the Jordan 

Bethabara is the name used by some versions of the New Testament for the site "beyond the Jordan" where John the Baptist preached and performed baptisms.

At the head of the Wadi Kharrar, springs emerge from the barren landscape to create a small oasis of tamarisk and palm trees, reeds, grasses and shrubbery. From here the Wadi Kharrar stream flows eastward to the Jordan River, its 2-kilometre route flanked by thick vegetation and identified by the murmur of running water.

The fresh water of the Wadi Kharrar stream would have been more suitable for baptisms than the murkier Jordan River, which in John the Baptist’s time was also subject to heavy seasonal flooding.

The area was guarded by the military.  They wanted to make sure we didn't swim across the River Jordan to the other side cause that area was Israel.  We were not allowed to go unless it was over the designated border crossings.

The Baptism Site was a militarized zone, full of mines when Jordan and Israel signed their peace treaty in 1994. The treaty allowed for the de-mining of the area.

We witnessed many people getting baptized.  There were shouts of joy after they were immersed in the waters.  It was a pretty exciting sight to see!....especially on Easter Sunday!

Back to our hotel and relaxation!  Such gorgeous flowers!

The Marriott Hotel has gone all out here - amazing food, great service, beautiful pools - what a wonderful way to end our amazing adventures in the Holy Land!

We were treated to a special Easter buffet and the food was to die for!  Enjoy the following photos!  I took lots of pictures of the array of sweets!

A giant chocolate Easter egg was our centerpiece going into the dining room.

I'll take one of each, please!  Actually, the buffet was so good that I had no room for dessert.  I asked if I could take some to go.  HA!  They made me up a box with lots of treats and brought it to my room.

Unfortunately, I gave the box to John to carry and forgot to get it back from him - I hope he enjoyed them!

Now to pack up and get a little sleep before leaving at 3 am for a LONG trip home!

The past three weeks have been amazing!  To walk on hallowed ground in the Holy Land was a dream come true!~  Thanks Cousin Lloyd and Cousin John.  It was wonderful to room with you, Joanne.  You are an inspiration! 

DAY 15 - Moses, Madaba, Mosaics & More

Biblical Scenes From Long Ago!

The view early in the morning after breakfast - no one is around. 

What a gorgeous day!  Sights from the back of the Marriott Hotel in Jordan.

Joanne and I enjoy an early walk around the pools with the Dead Sea in the background.

Hey!  The flowers are the same color as my blouse....GORGEOUS!

Off to Mt. Nebo we go!  Moses saw the Promised Land from here.

Up the mountain we go in our bus.

Some sheep grazing on the hillside.

Some nomad residences along the hillside

After 40 years leading the headstrong Israelites in the desert, Moses stood on the windswept summit of Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land of Canaan - after having been told by God “you shall not cross over there”.

The Abu Badd - a rolling stone used as a fortified door of a Byzantine Monastery in the old village of Faisaliyah

A wonderful scripture from the New Testament

The view from the summit provides a panorama of the Holy Land and, to the north, a more limited one of the valley of the River Jordan.  The West Bank city of Jericho is usually visible from the summit, as is Jerusalem & Bethlehem on a very clear day.  Moses saw this same view!

A serpentine cross sculpture atop Mount Nebo was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantonni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21: 4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. (John 3:14)

The Brazen Serpent Monument

According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Israel, which God had said he would not enter.  Moses also died here.

Beautiful mosaics found on Mt. Nebo

Early Christians from Jerusalem made it a place of pilgrimage. In the 3rd or 4th century monks from Egypt built a small church on one of its peaks, Siyagha (a name meaning monastery), to commemorate the end of Moses’ life.

By the end of the 4th century, an empty “tomb of Moses” was being shown to pilgrims on the mountain.

The main mosaic depicts wine-making, hunters and various animals.

Plaque showing the distance from Mount Nebo to various locations

Interior of the Mt. Nebo church

A baptismal font

Beautiful mosaics seen inside

Mosaics seen on the floors inside the Church

Our tour group enjoys learning from our guide

The Pope had this Olive Tree planted here during his visit in 2000

Interesting history here!

Some facts about the primitive church here

The Pope's visit in 2000

Next stop - The art of Mosaics - WOW!  It is so time consuming!

This lady gave us a demonstration of what into the work of mosaics.  These people still do it today.

A work like this IS NOT CHEAP!

I sure do appreciate all that is put into this, but I will have to just  look at these photos.

Back on the bus to visit Madaba.

Some scenes along the way as we travel through the city.

Narrow streets!

Shopping galore!

Always adding on to existing buildings!

Parking is a problem!

Many wares to sell!

Coca-Cola is EVERYWHERE!

Madaba ("City of Mosaics") is an ancient town in Jordan, southwest of the capital Amman. It’s known for its 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. The Madaba Archaeological Park preserves the mosaic-rich Church of the Virgin Mary and artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras.

Madaba Archaelogical Museum

A mosaic found from the baths of the fortress Machaerus which was built by Herod the Great.  Dating from the 1st c. BC, it is the most ancient mosaic in Jordan.

Here are some arches and vaults beneath the church that have been excavated.

Original cobblestone streets right along here

St. George Greek Orthodox Church

Such beautiful portrayals ALL in mosaic...WOW!

WOW!  Right in front of my eyes!

The remains of the oldest known map of the Holy Land, painstakingly assembled from more than a million pieces of coloured stone lie here on this floor.

UNBELIEVABLE!

THE COOLEST THING EVER!

Less than a third of the map has survived.

A conservative estimate is that the mosaic map would have originally contained about 1,116,000 pieces of stone and glass. A team of three workmen, working 10-hour days and directed by a superior artist, would have needed about 186 days to assemble it.
In 746, about 200 years after the mosaic map was constructed, Madaba was largely destroyed by an earthquake and subsequently abandoned.

The new settlers were removing debris from an old church in 1884, so they could build a new one on the site, when they discovered the remains of the map. They incorporated the surviving fragments into the new St George’s Church.

TWO maps that explain the original mosaic map (an ancient find!)

Cousin Lloyd bought Joanne this beautiful mosaic ring from the shoppe.  Beautiful!

The view from our hotel room window

Just had to take a couple of photos of our bathroom.  Pretty luxurious!

Taking selfies as the sun begins to go down....refreshing fountains!

The sun sets over the DEAD SEA!  Pinch me cause I can't believe I'm here!