King Abdullah II of Jordan and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem inaugurated on Monday the International Orthodox University “The Baptism Site”.
According to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the higher education institution was built at the site where the Lord Jesus Christ was baptised by Saint John the Baptist. The area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
The university is dedicated to the humanities, ethical leadership, historical research, cultural dialogue and the formation of future generations.
Patriarch Theophilos III said the initiative responds to a profound need in the region: to unite spiritual depth with intellectual excellence, faith with academic research, and inherited truth with responsible service to humanity.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem also praised the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its protective role in a region burdened by conflict, fragmentation and spiritual uprootedness.
According to the Patriarchate, the university was conceived as a meeting place for scholars, religious leaders, young men and women from across the Middle East and beyond, functioning as a permanent centre for academic excellence, Christian-Muslim dialogue, human encounter and cultural exchange between East and West.
Photo: Jerusalem Patriarchate
