About this experience

Church of St. George

Madaba, Jordan

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Published: 2023 (v1)

Story outline

  • St. George Church

    Marhaba, and welcome to Madaba, the country of Jordan's “City of Mosaics.”

  • Stop 1. Historic Church

    You're at the Basilica of St. George in Madaba, a Greek Orthodox church built in the 19th century on ancient Byzantine foundations. Its bells mix with local mosque calls create to Madaba's unique soundscape.

  • Stop 2. Christian Iconography

    Inside St. George's Basilica, art depicting the lives of saints and Jesus adorns the walls, gifted by congregants. Built-in the late 19th century by Arab Christians from Karak, the church pays homage to Madaba's Byzantine past.

  • Stop 3. Mosaic Map

    St. George's houses a 6th-century mosaic map in the floor, uncovered in 1884. Made of over 2 million local stones, it's the earliest known Holy Land depiction and features Greek place names.

  • Stop 4. Wooden screen

    The church has a wooden screen called a templon or iconostasis, a Byzantine feature. Decorated with icons, it separates the congregation's nave from the clergy-only sanctuary housing the altar.

  • Stop 5. The Church Today

    St. George's is not just a historical site but also an active spiritual hub for Madaba's Greek Orthodox community. Services are attended by local families, who are descendants of the original settlers from Karak. The church remains a cornerstone of modern Madaba life.

Voices

  • Jude Anton Twal

    Cultural Advisor

    Jude Anton Twal graduated with a degree in Architecture from the American University of Madaba and works with local cultural insitutions to document and preserve cultural heritage.

  • Saif Hamarneh

    Student & Cantor at St. George

    Saif Hamarneh is a high school student that serves as a cantor in the Church of St. George. When he is not studying he also makes Orthodox Rosaries.

  • Fuad Hamarneh

    Tour Guide

    Fuad graduated from the Latin Catholic High School of Madaba in 1994, and finished his bachelor degree in Mechanical engineering from the University Of Jordan in Amman in 2000. Born and raised in Madaba, Fuad has worked with tourists throughout his life and since 2019 has been registered as an official certified and licensed general tour guide in Jordan, with a specialization in giving biblical and classical tours.

Partners

About the Project

The Church of St. George in Madaba, Jordan, is best known for housing the Madaba Map, one of the oldest known geographic floor mosaics in existence that depicts the Holy Land. Dating back to the 6th century AD, this mosaic provides valuable historical insights into the region. The church itself is an important place of Christian pilgrimage and stands as a testament to the region's rich religious and artistic heritage.

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Credits

This Tapestry tour of the Church of St. George in Madaba was made possible thanks to Jude Anton Twal, Father Firas Naswareen, Father Nikola, Fuad Hamarneh, Dr. Douglas R. Clark, and Saif Hamarneh.

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