WEST BANK: CHRISTIANS RENEW THEIR FAITH AT TRADITIONAL JORDAN RIVER SITE OF JESUS' BAPTISM

Record ID: 863306

  • Title: WEST BANK: CHRISTIANS RENEW THEIR FAITH AT TRADITIONAL JORDAN RIVER SITE OF JESUS' BAPTISM
  • Date: 18th January 2004
  • Summary: (L!3) JORDAN RIVER NEAR JERICHO, WEST BANK (JANUARY 18, 2004) (REUTERS) ORTHODOX CLERGYMEN WALKING DOWN STEPS TO JORDAN RIVER WIDE OF CEREMONY AT JORDAN RIVER MORE OF SITE WHERE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE JESUS WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST WOMAN IN JORDAN RIVER MAN COLLECTING BOTTLES OF WATER FROM RIVER WIDE OF CHURCH NEAR JORDAN RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) KATIE, CHRISTIAN FROM VIRGINIA IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYING: "Well for me personally it's extremely spiritual to be able to walk in the land where our lord Jesus Christ actually walked." VARIOUS OF SITE WOMAN HOLDING FLOWERS, PRAYING IN FRONT OF RIVER CLOSE OF RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO TRAVELED FROM BETHLEHEM IN THE WEST BANK, SAYING: "Actually I feel really lucky, because I managed to cross the borders to be able to come here, from Bethlehem to here, and I feel that the Christian spirit is really here." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS MAKING THEIR WAY TO RIVER WIDE OF CEREMONY PALESTINIANS FROM BETHLEHEM GETTING OFF BUS CLOSE OF ISRAELI FLAG ATOP NEARBY GUARDPOST TO WIDE OF PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS RIVER ORTHODOX CLERGYMEN CARRYING CROSS
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JORDAN RIVER NEAR JERICHO, WEST BANK
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACIC0KIUMWCNL7NHRI8W9EONZW
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Christians renew their faith at traditional Jordan River site of Jesus' baptism.
    Hundreds of Christians were baptized on Sunday (January 18) in the Jordan River to mark the date and place where tradition says John the Baptist first baptized Jesus.
    Led by members of the Orthodox clergy, pilgrims from around the world, Israel and the West Bank made their way down the riverbank to plunge into the chilly waters that they believe once sanctified Jesus.
    The annual event was celebrated despite the Israeli-Palestinian fighting that has convulsed the region for over three years.
    "Actually I feel really lucky, because I managed to cross the borders to be able to come here, from Bethlehem to here, and I feel that the Christian spirit is really here," said one Palestinian woman who had come in a group by bus from the West Bank city.
    For some of the pilgrims the baptism was their first -- for others, a renewal of faith carried out in the steps of Jesus.
    "It's extremely spiritual to be able to walk in the land where our lord Jesus Christ actually walked," said Katie, an American.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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