Religion and Faith

Madaba and its hinterlands were frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as Medeba, especially in the narratives related to Moses and the Exodus, David’s war against the Moabites, Isaiah’s oracle concerning Moab, and King Mesha of Moab’s rebellion against Israel. Some of the finest art of the early Christian centuries – especially elaborate and colourful mosaics – is found in Madaba and the surrounding regions in central Jordan. The feature attraction here is the Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest known geographic floor mosaic in art history that has been of use in the verification of biblical sites. The map depicts an area from Lebanon in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Eastern Desert. It depicts numerous cities and geographical features of the region, including Jerusalem and its gates, the Dead Sea and several other biblical Christian sites.

Mount Nebo’s first church was built in the fourth century AD to mark this holy site, where Moses first surveyed the Promised Land and is said to have died and been buried. The Serpentine Cross, which stands outside the sanctuary, is symbolic of the brass serpent carried by Moses into the desert and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, Mount Nebo and the segment of the River Jordan where Jesus is believed to have been baptised by John the Baptist. The area is also associated with the biblical account of the Prophet Elijah’s ascent to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire.

Umm Al Rasas was a Roman garrison town, that later flourished as a Christian city under Islamic rule. The city is now mostly in ruins, but still includes several structures, as well as four churches and some beautiful stone arches. The main attraction lies outside the city walls within the Church of St. Stephen, where a perfectly preserved mosaic floor laid down in 718 AD is found. The mosaics portray 15 major cities of the Holy Land from both east and west of the River Jordan.

Like Masada on the opposite side of the Dead Sea, the biblical Machaerus was the scene of a Roman siege during the first Jewish revolt against Rome but may be best known as the site of John the Baptist’s execution at the order of Herod Antipas following the infamous dance of Salome, a story recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The site is easily reached by car from Madaba. Mukawir is also a designated pilgrimage site.

It is believed that Jesus Christ and his disciples including Virgin Mary passed through Anjara once  and rested in a cave there during a journey between Jerusalem and Galilee. The cave in Anjara has long been a holy place for pilgrims and is now been commemorated with a modern shrine, the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain. The cave was also designated by the Catholic Churches of the Middle East as one of the five pilgrimage sites for the year 2000.