Russian Pilgrims’ Reception House on River Jordan Opened

The official opening ceremony of the Russian Pilgrims’ Reception House (Russian Pilgrims’ Hotel) on the river Jordan took place within the framework of President of the Russian Federation Mr. V.V. Putin’s visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The ceremony was attended by President of the Russian Federation Mr. Putin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Lavrov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Mr. Kalugin, Executive Officer from the Affairs Management Department of the Russian Federation President’s Administration Mr. Kozhin, President of the ‘StroytransGas’ PLC Mr. Makarov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council (RJBC), Chairman of the RJBC’s Commission for Tourism, Culture and Religion Mr. Kononenko, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Head of Moscow Patriarchate Directorate for Institutions Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Archbishop Egorevsky Mark, Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Archimandrite Isidor, Head of the King’s Council for Religious Denominations H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Minister of Tourism&Antiquities of Jordan Mr. Nayef Hmeidi Al Fayez, officials from structures, departments, and representatives of non-government, international ecclesiastical and religious organizations.

H.M. King of Jordan Abdullah II gave to Russia 1 hectare of land on the sacred river Jordan next to the official place of the Baptism of Christ as a token of high respect for the Russian people and all the Orthodox in Russia.

The official ceremony of the Russian Pilgrims’ House’s foundation stone laying took place on 24th March 2008.

The Russian Pilgrims’ House (pilgrims’ reception house) was constructed by ‘StroytransGas’ PLC on the instructions of the Affairs Management Department of the Russian Federation President’s Administration.

Opening of the Russian Pilgrims’ House will contribute to further development of religious and cultural mutual relations between Russia and Jordan; will lead to a considerable growth in number of pilgrims from Russia making Jordan and Russia even much closer in their mutual aspiration for peace and amity.

Sprinkling of the Russian Pilgrims’ Reception House with Holy Water