Pilgrims mark baptism of Jesus on banks of River Jordan

(18 Jan 2015) Greek-Orthodox Christians and faithful from other Eastern Churches attended an annual ceremony at the River Jordan on Sunday, to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ. Thousands of Christians from the Palestinian Territories, Israel and Europe took part in the event at Qasr Al Yahud, bathing at the place where, according to Christian tradition, John the Baptist baptised his cousin Jesus. "We are blessed because we are here," said Tudo Ralo, a pilgrim from Romania. The spot is close to where the River Jordan flows into the Dead Sea and is the third most important site in Christianity after the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Following tradition, the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theofilos III, led a procession to the river and threw a cross wrapped in a branch of basil leaves several times into the river's waters. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...