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THOUSANDS 'GATHER AT THE RIVER' FOR EPIPHANY CELEBRATIONS Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan - Biblical birthplace of Christianity - will be setting for ceremonies honoring Jesus' baptism; Orthodox, Protestants and Catholics to celebrate together On the banks of the Jordan River in this peaceful settlement &endash; one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the last century, identified as the biblical location where John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized &endash; several thousand Christian faithful will gather on Friday, Jan. 12 to commemorate the baptism of Jesus. Ceremonies have only been possible here within the last decade, when land mines were cleared and excavations began following the peace treaty with neighboring Israel in 1994. Now, local followers join with pilgrims from around the world to continue the tradition of old to gather at the holy spot where Jesus was revealed as the Light of the World. Continued ABOUT JORDAN Images of the ancient Nabatean city of Petra, carved from the rock over a thousand years ago, have long been most people's first impression of Jordan. But while Petra is indeed one of the most stunning attractions in the Middle East, Jordan offers so much more for the modern traveller. A well-travelled bridge between sea and desert, east and west, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts, from the Jordan Valley, fertile, ever changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still. Visitors can explore splendid desert castles, gaze in awe at the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum, or bathe in the restful waters of the Red Sea. HISTORY & CULTURE There is no mistaking the fact that Jordan is a Kingdom steeped in history and culture. From the moment you arrive, you get a sense of its rich heritage, all around are remnants of ancient civilizations long since past, yet they still remain, stamped into the very fabric of this amazing Kingdom and etched into the soul of the people who live here. JORDAN TOURISM BOARD NEWS RELEASES Royal Village Bayan Holding Company announced the official opening of the state-of-the-art Royal Village head office and sales centre and unveiled the final master plan and model for the landmark development, located in the centre of Amman. This key milestone follows the laying of the foundation stone for Royal Village under the patronage of and in the presence of King Abdullah II in November 2005. A key component of the $1.25billion Royal Metropolis project in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Royal Village, is one of the most technologically advanced and energy-friendly gated residential communities. Royal Village is being promoted by Bayan Holding Company, a joint venture between Gulf Finance House (GFH), Kuwait Finance & Investment Company (KFIC) and its clients, with a capital of more than $410 million. The new on-site Royal Village head office was officially opened at a high-profile formal ceremony under the patronage of Dr. Marouf Al Bakhit, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Jordan, and was attended by Minister of Economy and Trade, Sharif Al Zu'bi, senior dignitaries, VVIPs, government officials, Bayan Holding Company management, clients, investors and media. Esam Janahi, Chairman of Bayan Holding Company and Chief Executive Officer and board member of GFH, said: "The opening of the Royal Village head office marks a major milestone in the ongoing progress of the project. " In addition to the head office, the new on-site state-of-the-art Sales Centre will serve as a fully integrated sales and support facility for the developers. Consisting of audio-visual and model display areas, it will be equipped to host guests, investors, events, press conferences, meetings, and will facilitate site tours. Janahi added: "Through Royal Village, we aim at creating a well designed, secure and luxurious environment which will appeal to individuals seeking to identify with an exclusive and fashionable lifestyle. Thus, with Royal Village opening for sales, GCC Nationals and residents will have the opportunity to own a second home in Jordan. Additionally, we envisage and are confident of a strong response for this project from high net worth individuals, especially Jordanians living overseas who are keen to invest in their home country." Abdul Rahman Al-Saeed, board member of Bayan Holding Company and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KFIC said: "Royal Village is a unique development that will complement the efforts of the Kingdom of Jordan, under the capable leadership of King Abdullah II and with the support of Dr. Marouf Al Bakhit, the Prime Minister, to optimally leverage the country's strengths and positively contribute to accelerating its economic growth." Key facilities and amenities at Royal Village will include a club house, parks, landscaped gardens, a shopping mall, a multi-screen cinema theatre, tennis courts, state-of-the-art infrastructure, energy efficient solar solutions, fibre-optic cabling and a central gas distribution network amongst others. |
