Israel has begun preparations for the commemoration of the 2,000th anniversary of the Lord’s baptism, to be celebrated in 2030, by establishing a task force aimed at strengthening dialogue with the Churches and coordinating the reception of the millions of pilgrims expected to arrive in the Holy Land for this milestone.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the creation of this task force, chaired by George Deek, the country’s special envoy to the Christian world, with the goal of coordinating preparations for a celebration expected to attract believers from around the globe.
Israel advances preparations for 2030
Presenting the initiative, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the anniversary as “a milestone for the Christian world” and highlighted its spiritual significance.
“This is an event of profound spiritual importance for more than two billion Christians worldwide,” he stated.
The minister added that the celebration will provide an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and visit the sites linked to the baptism of Jesus Christ and the beginnings of the Christian faith.
According to the Ministry, Israel expects to receive millions of pilgrims during the celebrations planned for 2030.
Jordan also prepares for the bimillennium
The Israeli announcement comes two months after Jordan presented the so-called “2030 Initiative”, a project aimed at preparing for the bimillennium of the Lord’s baptism by improving the infrastructure at Al-Maghtas, on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, traditionally venerated as the site of Jesus’ baptism.
In recent years, the Hashemite Kingdom has carried out various measures to facilitate the reception of pilgrims at this location.
For its part, Israel has continued to improve access and facilities at Qasr al-Yahud, located on the western bank of the Jordan and likewise venerated as one of the traditional sites of Christ’s baptism.
The work undertaken by both countries anticipates one of the major international pilgrimages planned for 2030, when the Church will commemorate the bimillennium of the Lord’s baptism.