This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1:28)
Bethabara (Greek Βηθαβαρᾶ́, Hebrew בית עברה - “Beit Avarah”,
crossing house, ford place) - the name of the place on the
Jordan River, where, according to the New Testament, John the
Baptist performed the Baptism of Jesus Christ, also where John
preached and performed baptism in water and where did Jesus call
the apostles of John's disciples (John 1: 28-51).
There are several versions of identifying Bithabara with the
place of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. The most accepted one
connects this name with the area on the banks of the Jordan
River in the territory of the modern states of Israel and
Jordan, 8.6 kilometers north of the confluence of the Jordan
River in the Dead Sea. At the same time, two archaeological
sites claim the exact place of baptism - the traditional place
of Epiphany on the west bank of the Jordan River, which is
administered by the National Parks of Israel and is called Qasr
el-Yahud, and the traditional place of Epiphany on the east,
Jordanian bank, located opposite Qasr el Yahuda and referred to
as El Mahtas.
According to Christian tradition, in Bithavar,
Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. In Jewish tradition, this
area is called the place where, as well as the sons of Israel, along
with Joshua, Jordan first crossed, leaving an altar of 12 stones at
the crossroads, according to the number of tribes of Israel, and
then entered the promised land.
The Old Testament describes this event in the Book of Joshua as
follows:
14 And it came to pass, when the people removed
from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the
ark of the covenant before the people;
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet
of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the
water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of
harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon
an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and
those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea,
failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against
Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord
stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the
Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were
passed clean over Jordan.
The New Testament tells of the baptism of Jesus Christ as follows:
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came
to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was
opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon
him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved
Son; in thee I am well pleased.
In the Burdigal itinerary (333), opposite the
valley of Epiphany, the hill is indicated, from where the prophet
Elijah ascended to heaven. This area is located 30 miles from
Jerusalem, and probably the city of Bef Vara, mentioned in the Book
of Judges, was located in it (VII, 24).
During excavations in the vicinity of Bifavara, the base of the
column was discovered, which is a marble slab in the form of a
square with a side of 2 m.
Archaeological research in 1996 in Wadi al-Harrar (on the eastern
coast of the Jordan) revealed a Byzantine monastery complex of the
5th-6th centuries, consisting of northern, western and the so-called
rectangular churches and other buildings. The northern church was
built, according to the Greek inscription on the mosaic floor, under
the blessing of Rotoria. Another identified complex belongs to the
Sapsas Lavra.