Elijah's Hill
One of the most important sites of the Baptism Site is Elijah’s Hill, the place where Elijah ascended to heaven in the 9th century BC.
The Bible states that Elijah would return before the coming of Jesus, so when John the Baptist began baptizing people there it caused a huge stir in the surrounding villages. The villagers came to inquire whether or not he was their messiah. He replied, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord”.
On the western side of Elijah’s Hill, there is a cave where John lived. Jesus was known to come and visit him here. This has always been considered a very Holy site. A church was built around the cave at the time the monastery was built in the 5th century. It was the first monastery east of the Jordan River on the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem and Bethlehem to the west and Mount Nebo to the East. Another significant point is that during the period of Islamic rule, monks lived in the monastery performing their daily duties freely. This shows the kind of coexistence between Christians and Muslims that is still the case in modern day Jordan.
Visually the site is very similar to how it would have looked in the time of Jesus and John. The Bible describes the reeds that can be seen throughout the year today. The small rough bushes are the natural habitat for bees, reminding us of what John the Baptist used to eat, wild honey and locusts.
Pilgrim Trail Guide
Holy Year Indulgence
Heritage Site
