by Linda Zaki– Milhilard.org

Photos courtesy of Noursat-Jordan

Amman, Jordan — The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities opened a five-day workshop in Amman this week to train 130 tour guides specializing in Christian pilgrimage sites, part of a broader push to attract religious tourism and showcase Jordan’s historic Christian heritage of churches and bishoprics.

The program, organized in cooperation with Amman Applied University College, the Holy Land Society Pro Terra Santa, the Franciscan Institute, and the Tourist Guides Association, aims to ensure that guides convey accurate, well-documented historical information. It emphasizes weaving sacred texts with archaeology and historical traditions to enhance credibility and improve the quality of guidance offered to visitors.

The five-day event is the first of its kind and comes as 130 guides—selected from about 1,400 applicants—prepare to lead Christian pilgrimage tours across the kingdom. The workshop was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr. Imad Hijazeen, with representatives from the collaborating organizations in attendance. Tarek Rizkallah, president of the Holy Land Association Pro Terra Santa, told Milhilard.org that the participants are seasoned professionals fluent in multiple languages and will soon focus on Christian pilgrimage narratives.

Rizkallah described to Milhilard.org the program as a comprehensive initiative titled “In the Christian Footsteps,” held on the sidelines of the Dawn of Christianity Exhibition for 2024. He noted that this year’s edition carries the theme “Places and Traditions between Archaeology and the Holy Books of Christian Pilgrimage,” and is designed to equip guides with the complete information they need about Christian prayer, clergy, church hierarchy, and holy sacraments. “During the workshop, we were keen to provide all the information about the Christian religion, about prayers, clergy, church hierarchy, and holy sacraments, and to enable tour guides—whether Christian or non-Christian—with correct information and terms that they can present to tourists accurately,” Rizkallah said.

A key objective, he added, is to unify the religious, biblical, and archaeological narratives among guides and present them consistently, using names and terms aligned with the Bible and church tradition. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the Catholic, Latin, Orthodox, and Episcopal churches, reflecting broad ecclesiastical support for the initiative. Organizers say they hope to continue offering courses that train licensed guides capable of delivering high-quality religious tourism experiences.

The event underscored collaborations across official, academic, and church institutions in support of specialized religious tourism. Rizkallah noted that the selection process was conducted by the Tourist Guides Association in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with emphasis on attendance commitment and high professional standards. The program also aims to ensure that guides can convey a consistent, accurate historical and spiritual narrative to visitors.

Father Bishara Dahabra gave a lecture tracing the history of the Church in the Holy Land from biblical times, addressing the origin and development of church structures and the division of patriarchates. He highlighted to Milhilard.org how, after the year 451, Jerusalem-affiliated bishoprics numbered 17, whereas before 451 they were linked to Antioch; he pointed out that during the Byzantine era, many Christians lived in Jordan. Today, the Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan counts about 42 to 43 churches. Dahabra stressed that Jordan’s Christian heritage began with the Gospel’s spread in the region, anchored by the holy Jordan River, and emphasized that tour guides must present Christianity with a complete, accurate theological picture—free from distortions—so visitors can walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio, spoke to Milhilard.org about the role of the workshop in projecting Jordan’s civil and open image to the world and in promoting Jordan as a hub of Christian pilgrimage sites officially recognized by the Vatican. Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, spoke about the Franciscan Order’s mission to serve sacred places and to spread the word of God, noting the interconnectedness of holy sites from the Holy Land to Jordan and their role in conveying the message of faith to a global audience.

Participants also engaged in field visits to key religious and tourist sites, including the Baptism Site—the traditionally recognized site of Jesus Christ’s baptism—and the city of Madaba, to deepen their understanding of the region’s religious and cultural heritage and its pivotal role in the Christian pilgrimage route.

Organizers described the workshop as a milestone in highlighting Jordan’s religious and cultural heritage, reinforcing the country’s status as a land of pilgrimage, encounter, and peace, and supporting national efforts to promote sustainable religious tourism.