King of Jordan donates land to Serbian Church at site of Christ’s Baptism

Patriarch Porfirije in Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On December 8, 2025, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) – the site of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, according to the Orthodoxia News Agency. He was accompanied by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King’s adviser on religious and cultural affairs.

The Primate of the Serbian Church visited the Trail of John the Baptist, the Hill of the Prophet Elijah, the Spring of the Forerunner, the place of Elijah’s ascent, and ancient churches dating from the 5th to the 12th centuries.

During the pilgrimage, Prince Ghazi conveyed King Abdullah II’s wish to grant the Serbian Orthodox Church a plot of land near the site of Christ’s Baptism. In response, Patriarch Porfirije noted that through this gift the King would inscribe his name in golden letters in the history of the Serbian Church.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Patriarch of Serbia would take part in the interreligious conference in Jordan.

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