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Qasr al-Yahud is the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus on the Jordan River. It’s located in Palestine southeast of Jericho.
Visiting
Qasr al-Yahud is administered by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as a national park and is open daily. Summer hours are 8am to 4pm Saturday through Thursday, and 8am to 3pm on Fridays and holiday eves. Winter hours are 8am to 3pm Saturday through Thursday, and 8am to 2pm on Fridays and holiday eves. The last entry is one hour before the park closes.
History
Qasr al-Yahud sits on the west bank of the Jordan River. The Jordanian side’s baptismal site, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, or al-Maghtas, is on the east bank. While the east bank has been a pilgrimage site since as early as the 2nd century, the more accessible west bank has only been a pilgrimage site since the late 19th century.
Due to the security situation between Israel and Jordan, Qasr al-Yahud was closed to tourism after the Six-Day War in 1967. It didn’t reopen to the public until 2011. Before that, an alternative baptismal site at Yardenit, near the Sea of Galilee, was established in 1981.
In addition to being the traditional baptismal site of Jesus, Qasr al-Yahud is also considered to be the place the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, and where Prophet Elijah ascended into heaven.
Facilities
Thousands of Christians of all denominations visit Qasr al-Yahud every year. Many dress in white and immerse themselves in the waters of the Jordan River. There’s a locker room, concession stand, and pavilions on site for groups to conduct prayers.
Our Experience
We walked down to the Jordan River and looked across to the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, which stands on the Jordanian side.
We then walked to an empty area right on the river, where two Greek Orthodox priests with our group conducted a special prayer service. They blessed the water of the Jordan River then blessed every member of our group. Those who wanted to enter the river were given the chance to do so.
Monastery of St. John the Baptist
On the drive out of Qasr al-Yahud, we spotted the Monastery of St. John the Baptist. A monastery has stood on the site since the 4th century, but it was closed after suffering damage during the Six-Day War. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which administers the monastery, took several years to restore it. Landmines left over from the war also had to be cleared. The monastery finally reopened in January 2018.
