The roots of Christianity in Jordan will be the focus of a coming exhibition at Vatican City.
Jordan: Dawn of Christianity, or Giordania Alba Del Cristianesimo, has been organised by the kingdom’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The exhibition will run between January 31 and February 28.
It commemorates three decades of diplomatic relations between Jordan and the Holy See. The exhibition also coincides with the 60th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s visit to Jordan in 1964.
Jordan has an integral place in the history of Christianity, with many of the religion’s most significant moments having taken place within the country’s modern borders. Many of these locations have become pilgrimage sites that have been acknowledged by the Vatican.
These include Tel Mar Elias, birthplace of the prophet Elijah; Mount Nebo, where Moses lived in his final days; and Lady of the Mountain, believed to be the cave where Mary, Jesus Christ and his disciples rested during a journey. Machaerus is where people commemorate the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. Finally, Al-Maghtas, on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, is believed to be where Jesus was baptised.
Jordan: Dawn of Christianity will delve into the rich history of these locations, as well as more than two dozen others. The exhibition will feature 90 artefacts that will trace the development of Christianity beyond its early beginnings, highlighting its evolution in the region alongside Islam and into the present Hashemite era.
