ISRAEL: Chile miners immerse themselves in the Jordan River during Holy Land visit

Record ID: 401014

  • Title: ISRAEL: Chile miners immerse themselves in the Jordan River during Holy Land visit
  • Date: 1st March 2011
  • Summary: NAZARETH, ISRAEL (FEBRUARY 28, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MINERS POSING FOR PHOTO IN CHURCH JORDAN RIVER, ISRAEL (FEBRUARY 28, 2011) (REUTERS) GROUP OF MINERS PREPARING FOR BAPTISM RITUAL IN JORDAN RIVER BAPTISM SITE GROUP MEMBERS WEARING WHITE BAPTISM ROBES VARIOUS OF LOCAL PRIEST SPEAKING WITH MINERS BEFORE BAPTISM RITUAL VARIOUS OF GROUP OF MINERS PRAYING BEFORE
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel, Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA65I0CQZZBBI5WCNV7EP2VLA7C
  • Story Text: Rescued Chilean miners on Monday (February 28) continued their 8-day tour to the Holy Land, visiting Christian sites in northern Israel.
    The group of miners and many of their family members participated in a special mass in the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth, Jesus' hometown. The church is believed to be built on the exact spot in which Virgin Mary learned she is carrying the son of God.
    Later, the group travelled to the Jordan river, in which Jesus is believed to have been baptised by John the Baptist. The miners performed a ritual immersion and prayed at the site.
    The miners were invited by the Israeli tourism ministry, which said in a statement that the miners will hold a 'spiritual visit' and a prayer of thanks for their rescue.
    One of the rescued Chilean miners told Reuters that despite wanting to cry, he felt very very happy.
    "I feel very good. Happy. I had the desire to cry, but I'm very happy," he said after being baptised.
    In October 2010, the miners were trapped after a cave-in at a small gold and copper mine in northern Chile. They were rescued after spending two months 2,050 feet (625 meters) underground.
    The miners were pulled to safety in a cramped specially designed capsule, after surviving on food, medicine and water passed down the bore-hole.
    They were pulled out of the ground in a rescue operation that was broadcast live to viewers around the world.
    31 out of the 33 men came on the tour to the Holy Land.
    The miners toured Christian holy sites in Jerusalem since their arrival on February 23, and they are expected to visit the Sea of Galilee and Tel Aviv before returning home on March 2nd.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register