A place where pilgrims can plunge into the Jordan with prayer. There are changing rooms and a souvenir shop. The place is equipped for dipping with a railing and a platform.
Qasr El Yahud is 10 km away. east of Jericho, in the Jordan Valley, near the confluence of the Jordan with the Dead Sea.Somewhere here, in these places, according to the New Testament, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. According to Jewish tradition, Qasr al-Yahud is considered to be the place where the children of Israel crossed the Jordan before entering Canaan.
The Baptism of the Lord is rightfully considered one of the most significant events in the Christian tradition, which marks not only the beginning of the mission of the Son of God on earth, but also the appearance of the Triune God to the entire Christian world.
Qasr al-Yahud is considered a sacred place for Christian pilgrims along with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity.
Where was the Baptism of the Lord really?
According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ came to John the Baptist, who was by the Jordan River in Bethavar, to be baptized.
Nobody knows the exact location of Bethavara.
Since the XVI century. until recently, it was believed that the place of Baptism was 1 km away. from modern Beit Avara, where the Monastery of St. Nicholas is now located. John the Baptist.
As a result of archaeological research and excavations along the east bank of the Jordan River, conducted since 1996, it turned out that the most likely place of baptism is not in Beit Awara, but nearby, on the other side of the Jordan, in Wadi al-Harar (Jordan).There were discovered the ruins of three early Byzantine basilicas and, most importantly, a stone slab-the base of a column mentioned in early Byzantine sources as a column erected at the place of Baptism.The Jordan River has changed its course many times over more than 2000 years, and now the place of Baptism is located on land and is 350 m away from the modern bank of the Jordan.
A baptismal place was equipped at the nearest point on the Jordan River from Jordan, a church and a pilgrimage complex were built.
Qasr al-Yahud is a place on the territory of Israel (Palestinian Authority) on the Jordan River, as close as possible to Wadi al-Harar.
Until recently, Qasr al-Yahud was accessible only with special passes.
In 2011, the Israeli authorities opened a section of the Jordan River in this place for free access by tourists and pilgrims.Now, special permits and approvals with military departments are not required for visits, as was previously required.
So the dream appeared...Come to Israel for Baptism...Plunge into the warm waters of the Jordan...Wow!