Baptism Site, May 18 (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II inaugurated the Baptism Site International Orthodox University (BIO Uni) on Monday, at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan), and directed the government to adopt and support the initiative to commemorate two thousand years since the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030, which was put forward by the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan.

During a meeting with Christian religious leaders from Jordan and Palestine at the Baptism Site attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy the King highlighted the need for the 2030 initiative’s action plan to focus on improving infrastructure and operational services at the Baptism Site.

His Majesty said he will be following up closely on progress in implementation of the action plan for the 2030 initiative. The Royal directive is in line with the King’s efforts to safeguard holy sites and preserve the Christian presence in the region, while serving to reaffirm Jordan’s status as home to some of the most important Christian sites and holy places in the region and the world.

For his part, Greek Orthodox Archbishop and Head of the Council of Church Leaders Archbishop Christophoros Atallah praised His Majesty’s support for the 2030 initiative, highlighting the importance of developing programmes and strategic plans in coordination with the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, noted that the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030 is not merely a historical occasion, but an opportunity to reaffirm the values of unity, harmony, and mutual understanding.

He also expressed his gratitude to the King for his support for the initiative and his commitment to promoting the values of dialogue and peace, noting that these efforts are aligned with the Hashemite Custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. For his part, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East Hosam Naoum said the 2030 initiative focuses on local preparations by preparing the site, developing infrastructure and services, and training staff to welcome pilgrims and visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad.

He added that the initiative would also involve working with churches and Christian organisations around the world, particularly in the West, to encourage participation in the commemoration of the baptism at its place of origin, which has both spiritual and global historical significance.

The 2030 initiative to commemorate two thousand years since the baptism of Jesus Christ focuses on a number of strategic objectives, which include the narrative and religious events associated with the occasion, the development of Christian pilgrimage tourism products, the promotion of the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) and other religious tourism sites at regional and global levels, and the development of infrastructure and the upgrading of operational services at the Baptism Site and other religious and tourist sites in Jordan. During BIO University’s inauguration, His Majesty underscored the importance of this university in reinforcing the symbolic significance of the site where Jesus was baptised, and in building on the Kingdom’s role as a model of moderation and inter-faith harmony. The King toured the facilities at BIO University, which is a non-profit institution established by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and has a capacity of 40 residents, as well as an option for distance learning, and is scheduled to begin admitting students in September.

During the inauguration, Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, spoke of the significance of establishing this university, and its aspiration to welcome students from Jordan, the region, and the world.

He also noted that Jordan stands as a beacon of hope for Christians in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship’s role in preserving the region’s cultural, civilisational, and religious fabric.

David Alexei, grandson of Mark Voloshin, the donor who funded the university’s establishment, said the vision for this university has become a reality thanks to His Majesty’s support, noting that it is a beacon of faith, learning, and harmony for future generations.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad and Princess Miriam Ghazi, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, Planning Minister Zeina Toukan, Tourism Minister Imad Hijazin, heads of churches in Jordan and Palestine, and a number of senior officials and officers, as well as representatives from the private sector attended the university’s inauguration. //Petra// AK