“Jordan, under its Hashemite leadership and with the participation of its people, Churches and institutions, is preparing to welcome the world in 2030

“We want Christian children anywhere in the world, when learning about the baptism of Jesus Christ, to know that this event took place here, in Jordan, and for visiting the Baptism Site to become a dream for every Christian believer

“Jordan now has a historic opportunity to demonstrate to millions of Christians that the Kingdom is not merely a secondary stop on a pilgrimage itinerary, but an integral part of the Holy Land and home to the authentic site of the Baptism of Christ

“A pilgrimage, he explained, should not end at the Jordan River. Pilgrims should also be encouraged to discover other Christian landmarks across the Kingdom, including Madaba and its famous mosaic map, Mount Nebo, Machaerus and the site associated with Prophet Elijah

“Jordan’s wealth of biblical and ecclesiastical sites, arguing that they should be presented through a coherent Christian narrative rooted in Scripture, the Church Fathers, history and archaeology

“the Orthodox Church is an active partner in the preparations and that its contribution will extend well beyond the celebrations planned for 2030

“The Baptism Site, he said, should not be approached simply as a conventional tourist destination, but as a sacred place where believers can pray, contemplate and encounter the Gospel narrative

“development must always preserve the spiritual character of the site

“the initiative to commemorate the bimillennium originated in Jordan and within the Council of Church Heads in the Kingdom

“preparations should not be limited to the anniversary year itself. The goal is to use 2030 as the starting point for a sustainable, long-term effort to strengthen Jordan’s position on the global Christian pilgrimage map and leave a lasting legacy for future generations

“the anniversary should also serve as an opportunity for the international Christian community to discover Jordan’s deeply rooted Christian heritage, which stretches back to the earliest centuries of Christianity

“the commemoration goes far beyond a single anniversary or a celebration lasting only a few days. Rather, it represents a historic responsibility and an opportunity to direct the attention of Christians around the world toward Jordan, the land where the Baptism of Christ took place