The Epiphany Holiday (the Revelation Holiday – Immersion in the Jordan River)

 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mathew 3:16)

On the 18^th-19^th January of each year the oriental churches celebrate the seminal moment in the life of Jesus: the baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist in a place called KASSER AL YAHOUD.

The churches’ leaders accompanied by their religious entourage and believers descend to the Jordan river and bless its water.

Our journey to this event and to the site, will take place on Monday the 19^th January, the day of the baptism ceremony’s happening, conducted by the Syrian and Coptic Churches.

We will watch the colorful ceremony and the baptism. From there we will continue to the nearby Dir Hajla monastery, one of the monasteries in the Judea desert dedicated to St. Gerassimus. We will visit the monastery and the special crypt.  From there we will walk east towards to the Wadi Nouheil caves, close to the monastery where monks used to seclude themselves during the Byzantine era.