Jordan’s religious landscape is woven from layers of civilizations and spiritual traditions, shaped by centuries of migration, empire, and cultural exchange. The Hashemite Kingdom has played a central role in safeguarding this heritage, upholding a national ethos of religious coexistence and cultural stewardship. Through collaborative efforts with local communities, international institutions, and faith-based organizations, the Jordanian leadership has ensured the continued protection and accessibility of key religious sites—Christian, Islamic, and pre-Abrahamic—preserving them as places of historical memory, intercultural dialogue, and respectful visitation.
Jordan's historical geography is inseparable from the broader narrative of the ancient Near East. The territory once formed part of the biblical kingdoms of Ammon, Moab, and Edom, later becoming a vital corridor for Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic civilizations. From the basalt highlands of the north to the limestone plateaus of the south, the region hosts a remarkable concentration of religious sites, many of which are associated with early Christianity.
In Madaba, the renowned 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land—embedded in the floor of the Church of Saint George—offers a vivid glimpse into the spatial imagination of the early Byzantine world. South of Madaba are the remains of Umm ar-Rasas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing extensive archaeological remains: Churches adorned with intricate mosaic floors and inscriptions that reveal a flourishing Christian presence well into the early Islamic period.
Today, Jordan is home to a small but longstanding Christian community, representing diverse denominations including Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Melkites, and Assyrians. These communities contribute actively to Jordan’s pluralistic society, supported by constitutional protections and a broader environment of interreligious dialogue. The Jordanian Royal Family has consistently emphasized the importance of cultural and religious diversity as a foundation of national unity and diplomacy.
Christian Jubilees mark significant anniversaries of foundational events in Christian tradition, offering moments of reflection, renewal, and pilgrimage. Following the 2025 Jubilee Year, a new milestone is approaching: the 2000th anniversary of the Baptism of Christ, anticipated to be commemorated in 2030. This occasion draws renewed international attention to the site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas), located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River.
Extensive archaeological work beginning in the 1990s has identified this area as a focal point of early Christian pilgrimage, with remains of churches, baptismal pools, hermitages, and monastic cells. These findings are consistent with ancient texts describing a vibrant baptismal tradition along this stretch of the river. In 2015, the site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognized for its cultural and historical significance in the development of early Christian practice.
The Jordanian authorities, in collaboration with ecclesiastical representatives and international partners, have made substantial efforts to prepare for the 2030 observance. Improvements to infrastructure, visitor access, and conservation initiatives have positioned the site to welcome an increasing number of pilgrims and heritage travelers in the years to come.
The Jubilee of 2030 provides Christian pilgrims with an opportunity to encounter landscapes and communities with long-held significance in the Christian tradition. Jordan’s pilgrimage routes link several historical and archaeological sites that provide context and continuity:
These sites, along with Jordan’s monastic landscapes, desert hermitages, and natural sanctuaries, form a broader pilgrimage ecology that integrates historical memory with contemporary experience.
In a region often marked by tension, Jordan has maintained a reputation for stability, moderation, and interfaith engagement. The Hashemite leadership has hosted numerous international forums advocating for religious dialogue and has facilitated collaborative preservation projects across religious traditions. Pilgrims visiting Jordan are met with a culture of hospitality and openness, shaped by long-standing practices of welcoming travelers.
Jordan’s heritage invites reflection not only on the past but on the possibilities of shared space and mutual recognition in the present. As the Jubilee of 2030 approaches, the country offers a compelling setting for pilgrimage—anchored in history, enriched by diversity, and committed to respectful encounter.