Jordanian Orthodox mark the baptism of Christ

(21 Jan 2022) LEAD IN: Orthodox Christians celebrated on Friday the annual ceremony that marks the baptism of Christ by the Jordan River. They gathered at the Al-Maghtas area on the river, in which Christians believe Jesus was baptized. STORY-LINE: Orthodox worshippers observed the annual ceremony that commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by the banks of the Jordan River on Friday. Due to coronavirus restrictions, only hundreds of pilgrims were allowed to attend the event at Al-Maghtas, where, according to Christian tradition, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Jordan's Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christophoros Atallah blessed clergymen and worshippers with water from the holy river. As worshippers prayed together, some were thinking of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the number of people taking part in this yearly event. "We raise our hands to pray to God for this pandemic to be over around the world," said Archimandrite Athanasius Kakish. But Haifa Fino, a woman who attended the ceremony on Friday, was unfazed by the virus. "Even with the pandemic and diseases, the holy water and our presence in this holy place will protect us," she said.   UNESCO has designated the area on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, where the baptism is believed to have taken place, as a World Heritage site. The spot is close to where the River Jordan flows into the Dead Sea and is considered the third most important site in Christianity after the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. 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...