Jerusalem, July 11, 2011
In February 2007, during an official visit to Jordan by the then Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the Jordanian government gave the Russian Federation a parcel of land indefinitely for non-profit use, by the Jordan River, for a Russian pilgrimage affiliate. The land is located in Bethabara of the Gospels, near the site of the Lord's baptism.
In March 2008 the site was consecrated and the cornerstone was placed. Participating in that event were government representatives from both Jordan and Russia, representatives from "Stroitransgas," a sponsor of the project, and members of the consulates of Bulgaria and Greece in the Kingdom of Jordan. The consecration was served by Archimandrite Tikhon (Zaitsev), the head of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Jerusalem (now Bishop of Podolsk).