Jordan River: Franciscan Monks
Franciscan monks going to immerse themselves in the lower Jordan River, near the place where it flows into the Dead Sea. This was one of the areas of activity of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and from here John the Baptist spread his message. It became a sanctified place associated with well-known miracles from the Bible. It was here that the Israelites crossed the River Jordan, which opened a path for them to cross, on their way to conquer Jericho. It was here that Elijah rose to heaven in a storm and Elisha, after bathing seven times in the Jordan to purify himself, raised an iron axe from the depths of the water and made it float until its owner took hold of it (II Kings 6:5–7).
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