A shrine near the traditional baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River led the Epiphany procession for the first time in more than 50 years Sunday after it was declared free of earth mines.
Father Francesco Patton, the custodian of the Holy Land for the Catholic Church, led Franciscan monks to a shrine in what was once a battlefield between Israel and Jordan.
Pilgrims march towards the Jordan River to take part in a baptismal ceremony at the Qasr el-Yahud site, near Jericho, on the West Bank
(Photo: Reuters)
Although both countries have been at rest since 1994, seven churches have been abandoned for more than 50 years in the field of mining. The area lies about a kilometer (0.62 miles) from the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal font on the West Bank, which is a major attraction for Christian pilgrims.
“Today, we are back in prayer,” said Rev. Ibrahim Faltas, one of the clergy at the ceremony. The procession, which marks the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, was attended at 50 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Guardian of the Father of the Holy Land Father Francesco Patton attends Mass at the Franciscan Church which reopened after the removal of landmines at the site of Qasr el-Yahud, near Jericho
(Photo: Reuters)
Israeli de-mining efforts began in 2018 and included support from the Halo Trust, a Scottish-based mine cleaning company, an Israeli official said.
As of 2021, “the threat has been completely removed,” said a branch of Israel’s defense ministry.
After visiting the shrine, the monks passed strict signs reading “DANGER – MINES!” In English, Arabic and Hebrew as they went down to the river to pray.