A Russian pilgrims center to open in Jordan in autumn

Russian pilgrims center will be opened in autumn 2011 in Jordan.

In February 2007, during a visit of Russian President V. Putin (now prime-minister) to Jordan, a historical event took place as the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan transferred to the Russian Federation a plot of land at the Jordan River for permanent and free use for building a Russian pilgrims center there. The land transferred to Russia is located in the biblical Bethabara, next to the place where the Lord was baptized.

In March 2008, the site of the future pilgrims center on the Jordan River bank was blessed and the first stone was laid in its foundation. The event was attended by high-ranking Jordanian and Russian officials, representatives of Stroytransgaz Company a sponsor of the center, as well as Bulgarian and Greek diplomats in Jordan. The rite of blessing was performed by Archimandrite Tikhon (Zaitsev) (now Bishop of Podolsk), head of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Jerusalem.

At present, after the four years of construction, the pilgrims center is being prepared for opening. The finishing work will soon be completed and the necessary equipment will be bought. The Russian Pilgrims Center in Jordan is expected to be opened this autumn, the website of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Jerusalem has reported.

Source: DECR Communication Service