Israel has begun preparations for the celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of the Lord

Israeli authorities have begun extensive preparations for the celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of the Lord, which will be observed on the Jordan River in 2030. A special task force has been formed to ensure a comfortable reception for pilgrims and to uphold freedom of religion in the country.

According to Times of Israel, George Dick, Special Envoy for Relations with the Christian World, has been appointed to lead the preparations. This initiative was launched by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. The group’s tasks include establishing dialogue with representatives of various churches to organize an event of profound spiritual significance for millions of believers.

An official statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasizes that strengthening ties with the Christian world is one of the state’s key priorities. The authorities promise to guarantee the protection of believers’ rights and ensure unimpeded access to holy sites for representatives of all faiths, despite existing challenges, such as high-profile disputes over property rights to church lands.

It should be noted that, according to data from the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) published in the second quarter of 2026, 83 cases of persecution of Christians were recorded in Israel . Most of the incidents occurred in Jerusalem’s Old City, where believers face spitting, physical attacks, vandalism, and online provocations.