THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST - UNCOVERING BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN

PRESS COVERAGE / TESTIMONIALS

"This remarkable account of recovering a foundational part of our Christian heritage gives encouragement to today's pilgrims to take their place in the unfolding story of the Baptism Site."

—The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"It is a work of art...I hope you see this beautiful documentary."

—Lucie Blodgett, The Voice-Tribune ( Full article )

"Not since “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” have the worlds of archeology and religion collided so."

—Shawn Hudson, LEO Weekly

"...a detective story about efforts to locate the site of the most famous baptism of all: that of Jesus himself by John the Baptist."

—Peter Smith, Courier-Journal Newspaper ( Full article ) 

"The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan" is an important, groundbreaking film which should be seen by people of faith. This film takes its subject seriously, avoiding the clich and superficiality often seen in documentaries of this sort. The film has real depth and subtlety and analyzes the issues of the meaning of baptism, the baptismal site and the archaeology surrounding it in an intelligent and substantial way.  It also shows how Christians and Muslims living in peace and tolerance in Jordan cooperated in the discovery of the site and how Muslims also venerate Christ and the holy events and places of Christianity, a little known fact. Christian audiences will be excited to see a work of substance and devotion made about such an important event in the life of Christ and the Church. 

'The Baptism of Jesus Christ' is a remarkable event. Beyond its immediate subject matter, the film also presents an important source of mutual tolerance and understanding relevant to present-day conflict. Christians must see this film. Everyone should see this film! "

—Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General,

    World Conference of Religions for Peace, New York

'"A moving, hope-filled testament for our times as representatives of Islam, Christianity and Judaism unite in discovering this once lost and most sacred site. Brilliantly conceived, beautifully executed.'"
—Jonathan Montaldo, The Merton Institute

"This is a stupendous film - important - life changing really."

 —Sally V.W. Campbell
 

 “The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan” is a beautiful film that will speak to pilgrims of all faiths. By chronicling the rediscovery of the outward and visible site of Christ’s baptism, it invites viewers to open their hearts to the deeper possibility of being reawakened, on an inward and spiritual level, to the transforming power of the benevolent Source of all that is in each moment of their lives.

This film is a blessing that will help all who see it be blessings in our world."

—The Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director
    United Religions Initiative, San Francisco

"This documentary led viewers on a vivid historical, archaeological, and theological exploration into the excavation of the long-lost site of Jesus of Nazareth's baptism at the River Jordan. The film not only elegantly braided together the festival's themes of Birth, Water, and Creation, but literally graced the whole day with the grace of those blessed landscapes and the communities therein (which were rendered beautifully with live footage portraits). This is a thorough telling of an amazing--and remarkably unknown--story. It surveys an impressive and informative array of orthodox voices and perspectives--illustrating the diversity of reverence across the world for Jesus Christ and the pivotal moment of his baptism...and all with a narrative suspense.

This movie is quite a feat, and was therefore awarded Best International Film at the 2nd Annual Appalachian Festival of Faiths."

—Garrett Graddy, Director, Appalachian Festival of Faiths

"Where was Jesus baptized? Why was the site lost? How was it discovered? What was found? Delve into these questions in the documentary The Baptism of Jesus Christ."
—The Merton Institute for Contemplative living

“The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” is a film that describes the effort to locate the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist."
—Claude Mariottini, Professor of Old Testament
    Northern Baptist Seminary

"As Chaplain and Tutor in Theology at St John's College, Oxford, I have acquired a special interest in our patron saint, John the Baptist. For several years now, news has been filtering through that the site on the east side of the Jordan revered by Christians since at least the fourth century as the place of Christ's baptism, had been rediscovered.  This film shows the impressive extent of the excavations, with a monastery on Elijah's Mouint, five churches, hermit caves, and a unique canopied baptismal font built out into what was then the course of the Jordan river itself.. 

Refreshingly, this film succeeds in being true both to the archaeological and the spirtual significance of the place. It is an introduction to the archaeological remains, and at the same time an evocation of the meaning of the baptism site for both ancient and modern pilgrims. It conveys the sense of excitment alike among archaeologists, biblical scholars and Bedouin tribesmen as the site was rediscovered over the past few years.  It reflects engagingly on the meaning of baptism in Christianity.

The film has made me particularly aware of the link that was made at this place, in Byzantine times, between the the traditional place of the ascension of the prophet Elijah, and John the Baptist who came in the role of Elijah as the one who prepared the way for the Lord, Jesus Christ.

If I have a reservation about the film it would be that at times it is a little too gushing about the theological significance of the site. This is without doubt a holy place where a significant event, the baptism of Christ, is commemorated. It is an historically plausible site. It could well be the actual site of Christ's baptism as specified in St John's Gospel. Like many places in the desert of the Holy Land it is soaked in prayer. However, the baptism of Christ was an event that marked the start of his public ministry, it was neither his incarnation nor his death and resurrection, and these are more highly significant events from a Christian theological point of view. It is not usual to view the baptism as having been the beginning of Christianity, although that is a point of view worth considering."

     St John's College, University of Oxford