Christianity in Jordan

A Greek Orthodox Church in Amman, Jordan.

Christianity in Jordan is among the oldest Christian communities in the world.[1] Christians have resided in Jordan after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, early in the 1st century AD.[2] Jordanian Christians are estimated to number 174,000 to 390,000 (2.8-6%) of the population.[3] which is lower than the near 30% in 1950,[4] and lower than percentages of Christians in neighboring Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. This is largely due to lower birth rates in comparison with Muslims and to a strong influx of Muslim immigrants and refugees from neighboring countries. Also, a larger percent of Christians compared to Muslims emigrate to western countries, resulting in a large Jordanian Christian diaspora. The Jordanian Greek Orthodox Christians are believed to be 310,000 most of whom are Arabic speaking.[5] Catholics number 70,000 and Protestants 30,000. There has been an influx of Christian refugees escaping the Islamic State mainly from Mosul, Iraq numbering about 7,000 [6] and 20,000 from Syria.[7] Conversion of a Muslim to another religion is technically not allowed. However, there are cases in which a Muslim will adopt the Christian faith, secretly declaring his/her faith. In effect, they are practising Christians, but legally Muslims; thus, the statistics of Jordanian Christians does not include Muslim apostates to Christianity. A 2015 study estimates some 6,500 believers in Christ from a Muslim background in Jordan.[8]

History

Jordanian Christians are among the oldest Christian communities in the world,[1] and the majority have always been Orthodox adherents to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which is the 16 Church of St. James, and was founded during Jesus’s lifetime. The Jordanian Greek Orthodox Christians are believed to be around 300,000. Many of them are descended from the Ancient Arab Ghassanid and Lakhmid Tribes, and they have throughout history shared the fate and the struggles of their Muslim fellow tribesmen. In 630 CE, during the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, many joined Muhammad's army led by his adopted son Zeid ibn Haritha and his cousin Jafar bin Abi Taleb, and fought against the Byzantine army of their fellow Orthodox Christians at the Battle of Mutah in Karak (it is because of this battle that they earned their tribal name “‘Uzaizat” which means “the reinforcements” — and Archbishop Fouad Twal himself comes from these tribes); in 1099 17 CE some were slaughtered by Catholic Crusaders at the Fall of Jerusalem alongside their Muslim comrades; later from 1916-1918 CE during the Great Arab revolt they fought against the Muslim Turks alongside Arab Muslim comrades; they thereafter languished for a few decades along with their Muslim fellows under a Protestant Colonial Mandate, and in the Israeli Arab Wars of 1948, 1967 and 1968 they fought with their Muslim Arabs against Jewish opponents. Christian Jordanians have not only defended Jordan, but have also helped to build Jordan, playing leading roles in the fields of politics, education, health, commerce, tourism, agriculture, science, culture and many other fields.

Denominations

Among the recognized denominations the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic (Latin), Melkite Greek Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Maronite Catholic, Anglican, and Syriac Orthodox Church make up the majority of Jordan's Christian population. Also the Lutheran, Coptic Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist, United Pentecostal, Latter-day Saints, and Presbyterian churches are recognized denominations while they make up a much smaller proportion of the Christian population.

In addition to the recognized denominations there are religious societies that are allowed to meet freely, but are not recognized as churches by the government. The recognized religious societies are the Evangelical Free Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Assembly of God, the Baptist Church, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Role in Jordanian Society

Archbishop Fouad Twal is the Roman Catholic archbishop and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since June 2008.

Christians are exceptionally well integrated in the Jordanian society and have a high level of freedom, though they are not free to evangelize Muslims.[9] They form a significant part of the kingdom's political and economic elite. Christians enjoy high economic and social opportunities in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan compared to the position of some, but not all, of their co-religionists in the rest of the Middle East. Christians are allotted 9 out of a total of 110 seats in the Jordanian parliament,[10] and also hold important ministerial portfolios, ambassadorial appointments, and positions of high military rank.

Jordanian Christians are allowed by the public and private sectors to leave their work to attend mass on Sundays. All Christian religious ceremonies are publicly celebrated in Jordan, Christians have established good relations with the royal family and the various Jordanian government officials, and they have their own ecclesiastical courts for matters of personal status. The government has contributed to restoring pilgrimages to the baptismal site of Jesus Christ.

Christians involved in Jordanian politics include; Sami Halaseh and Hazim Al-Naser, minister of Public Works and minister of Water and Irrigation respectively. Also Dina Kawar was the first Arab woman to lead the Security Council through Jordan's seat who also happens to be a Jordanian Christian.[11]

King Abdullah is a huge supporter of Arab Christians and says that their protection is duty instead than being considered as a favor.

“ Let me say once again: Arab Christians are an integral part of my region’s past, present, and future. ”

[12]

Christian Institutions

Schools

There are many Christian schools in Jordan that educate students from both Christian and Muslim families. Some members of the royal family have attended a Christian school for a portion of their education.

The Rosary Sister's School is run by the Catholic Church.

The Franciscan Sisters School is run by the Franciscans.

The National Orthodox School is run by the Orthodox Church and has received The Cambridge Queen Rania Award multiple times.

The Ahliyyah School for Girls, the Bishop's School for Boys, and the Schneller School are run by the Anglican Church in Amman. There are also a school for the blind, a school for the deaf, and a school for physically handicapped students run by the Anglican church.

The Baptist School of Amman is administered by the Baptist church in Jordan and enrolls students of both genders. The Baptist School band has played at many official government occasions.

Also De La Salle College is one of the most prestigious schools in Amman founded in 1950. An institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools founded by Jean-Baptist de la Salle. Along with Our Lady of Nazareth college and Terra Santa college.

Hospitals

The first Hospital built in Jordan was the 'Evangelical Hospital' built in As-Salt by the Church Missionary Society.

The Italian Hospital in Amman and in Kerak were started by a Catholic surgeon and is entrusted to the Comboni Missionary Sisters. The Catholic Church also runs a maternity hospital and a general hospital in Irbid in northern Jordan.

The Government Hospital in Ajloun was originally run by Baptists.

The Annoor Sanatorium which treats tuberculosis and other lung diseases was founded by a Christian doctor. The Annoor Sanatorium is located outside of Mafraq in northern Jordan.

Several Mission Clinics were also founded across Jordan.

Holy Sites in Jordan

Biblical sites

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Al-Maghtas
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List

Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River are the location for the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.
Location Balqa Governorate
Jordan
Type Cultural
Criteria iii, vi
Reference 1446
UNESCO region Arab States
Inscription history
Inscription 2015 (39th Session)

Portions of the Biblical narrative took place in the towns and the country side that now makes up Jordan.

Bethany Beyond the Jordan where John the Baptist preached and where Jesus Christ was baptized is located on the Jordan side of the Jordan river.

Also, Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Land of Canaan is located in western Jordan.

In northern Jordan there is a small creek where an angel met and wrestled with the patriarch Jacob.

The rock struck by Moses to bring forth water and the patriarch Aaron's tomb are both in southern Jordan.

The ruins of the fortress of the Ammonites are on a mountain overlooking downtown Amman. This is the site where King David had Bathsheba's husband Uriah the Hittite killed.

Umm Qays in northern Jordan is the place where the New Testament mentions that Jesus Christ had visited Gadara (Umm Qays) and cured two mad men near it by allegedly transferring their evil souls into a herd of pigs, which sank into Lake Tiberias. The miracle startled the people of Gadara, so that they met Jesus Christ with an antagonistic attitude and asked him to return back to Galilee.[13]

Christian historical sites

Jordan also contains many sites of historical importance to Christianity. Madaba, a city south of Amman, is the site of a large ancient church with detailed mosaic tile work. There have been many excavations in Madaba that have un-earthed ancient Christian artifacts.

There are many Arab and Frankish castles from the period of the Crusades in Jordan. The most famous of which is Ajlun castle located in the Ajloun district in northern Jordan. Other castles include Montreal (Crusader castle) and Kerak.

Fuheis and Al Husn are two predominantly Christian towns of Jordan.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Address to Pope Benedict XVI at the King Hussein Mosque, Amman, Jordan by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal
  2. ↑ Eusebius, History of the Church, 3.5.3
  3. ↑ Guide: Christians in the Middle East
  4. ↑ http://www.jordanexpert.com/Jordan_Expert/Religions.html
  5. ↑ http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/54728.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/iraqi-christians-return-school-jordan-after-year-limbo
  7. ↑ http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/hundreds-syrian-christians-flee-daesh-%E2%80%94-activists
  8. ↑ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion 11: 16. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Miller, Duane Alexander (November 2011). "The Episcopal Church in Jordan: Identity, Liturgy, and Mission". Journal of Anglican Studies 9 (2): 134–153. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  10. ↑ http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=4944
  11. ↑ http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/kawar-appointed-envoy-un
  12. ↑ http://kingabdullah.jo/index.php/en_US/speeches/view/id/546/videoDisplay/0.html
  13. ↑ http://in.visitjordan.com/Wheretogo/Irbid/ReligionFaith.aspx#sthash.bDmaO13c.dpuf

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