Amman, Jan. 20 (Petra) – Deputizing for Princess Rym Ali, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin on Monday patronized the launch ceremony of the Arabic-dubbed version of the global television series, The Chosen.
The event was organized by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in cooperation with the Lighthouse Arab World Foundation and was attended by a delegation from the production team representing the U.S.-based Come and See Foundation.
The ceremony was attended by Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Faris Breizat, a number of senators, members of parliament, and ambassadors, as well as priests, pastors, representatives of churches, and media professionals. Also present were Pontifical Mission Regional Director for Jordan and Iraq, Ra'ed Bahou, and Director of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies Taghreed Odeh.
In his remarks, Director General of the Catholic Center, Father Rifat Bader, stressed the importance of Jordan, the Holy Land, in hosting this symbolic event, given its historical and religious status, noting that the message of humanity began from the waters of the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.
Father Bader said Jordan represents a sacred land that embraces pilgrimage sites and embodies a model of harmony, security, and stability under Hashemite leadership. He noted that the series is not merely a television production, but a media message that promotes human dignity and spreads values of love, forgiveness, and brotherhood, stressing the role of cinema in addressing people searching for meaning and the need for cinematic works that testify to hope, beauty, and truth.
The Chosen is considered one of the most prominent global drama productions portraying the life of Jesus Christ from a human and spiritual perspective, highlighting his message and his interaction with his disciples and those around him. Its seasons have been translated and dubbed into more than 100 languages, earning recognition from Guinness World Records as the most translated series for online streaming.
The ceremony included screenings of key scenes from the series up to its fifth season, including the depiction of the martyrdom of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod at the Machaerus Fortress in Jordan. American producers and actors involved in the work, including Kirk Woller, Shan Sharma, producer Stan Jantz and Come and See Foundation Chief Growth Officer Mark McKane, spoke during the event, expressing pride in visiting Jordan, cooperating with the Catholic Center, and touring key religious sites such as Al-Maghtas and Mount Nebo.
The event also featured artistic performances by soprano Zeina Barhoumeh and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Choir conducted by Natalie Samaan, accompanied by pianist Grace Abu Daher.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of commemorative shields to the event’s sponsors and Arab media professionals participating in the "Diplomacy between Media and the Economy" conference organized by the Pioneer Center for Studies and Human Rights Training.
//Petra// AF
