Amman: Bethany Beyond the Jordan His Majesty King Abdullah II inaugurated the Baptism Site International Orthodox University (BIO Uni) on Monday at the historic Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. During the ceremony, King Abdullah directed the government to support the Baptism 2030 Initiative, a significant project proposed by the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus Christ's baptism.
According to Jordan News Agency, the inauguration event was attended by Christian religious leaders from Jordan and Palestine, along with His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King's chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy. His Majesty emphasized the importance of focusing the 2030 initiative's action plan on enhancing infrastructure and operational services at the Baptism Site.
The King expressed his commitment to closely monitor the progress of the action plan for the 2030 initiative. This Royal directive aligns with his ongoing efforts to protect holy sites and maintain the Christian presence in the region, reinforcing Jordan's position as a home to some of the world's most significant Christian sites.
Greek Orthodox Archbishop and Head of the Council of Church Leaders, Archbishop Christophoros Atallah, commended the King's support for the 2030 initiative, stressing the need for strategic planning and program development in collaboration with the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, highlighted the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism as an opportunity to promote unity and mutual understanding. He expressed gratitude to King Abdullah for his support and dedication to fostering dialogue and peace, which aligns with the Hashemite Custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem.
Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum outlined the initiative's focus on local preparations, infrastructure development, and staff training to welcome pilgrims and visitors. The initiative aims to engage churches and Christian organizations globally, especially in the West, to participate in the commemoration, which holds both spiritual and historical significance.
The 2030 initiative aims to achieve various strategic objectives, such as developing Christian pilgrimage tourism products, promoting the Baptism Site and other religious tourism locations, and upgrading infrastructure and services. During the inauguration of BIO University, His Majesty underscored the university's role in enhancing the symbolic importance of the Baptism Site and promoting inter-faith harmony.
King Abdullah toured BIO University, a non-profit institution established by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which plans to admit students starting in September. The university, with a capacity for 40 residents and options for distance learning, aspires to welcome students from Jordan and beyond.
Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, emphasized the university's significance and Jordan's role as a beacon of hope for Christians in the Middle East. He acknowledged the Hashemite Custodianship's vital role in preserving the region's cultural and religious heritage.
David Alexei, the grandson of Mark Voloshin, the university's benefactor, praised His Majesty's support in turning the vision of the university into reality, describing it as a beacon of faith and learning for future generations.
The inauguration was attended by members of the royal family, senior government officials, church leaders, and representatives from the private sector.