Amman, Aug.12 (Petra) — Building the Saint John the Baptist Maronite
Church at the Baptism Site reflects Jordan’s commitment to
Islamic-Christian harmony and highlights the kingdom’s religious and
historical standing, the head of the Lower House of Parliament’s
Foreign Affairs Committee said on Wednesday.

Speaking during a parliamentary delegation visit to the Maronite
Patriarchal Residence in Dimane, Lebanon, MP Haitham Al Ziadin said
the church will serve as a bridge of fraternity between Jordan and
Lebanon and add to the spiritual significance of the Baptism Site,
where Jesus Christ was baptized.

The delegation attended a ceremony celebrating the signing of the
operational protocol for the church’s construction project and
honoring businessman Sarkis Elias Sarkis, who is financing the
project.

The parliamentary delegation included the head of the House
Environment and Climate Committee, MP Jehad Abbawi, along with MPs
Huda Naffa and Hayel Ayyash.

Ziyadin underscored the importance of the project in boosting
religious tourism, calling on members of the Maronite community in
Lebanon, the diaspora, and around the world to visit Jordan and the
Baptism Site.

The ceremony was attended by the Lebanese ambassador to Jordan,
Brigitte Touq. At the conclusion of the event, the Jordanian
delegation presented commemorative shields to honor efforts
supporting the construction project.

//Petra// AF