Minunea de la Iordan - p. Ioan Meiu, p. Teologos

As the cross is cast into the Jordan three
times, and the Jordan is sanctified, many

Christians, as evidenced by a video
I have, observed the river's current —

typically strong in winter due to heavy
rains in Israel — flowing toward the Dead

Sea. It is leading the Jordan toward the
Dead Sea. And indeed, we could see

An Athonite Cell —
Joys from the Holy Mountain

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto

ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy,

Father, say a prayer! Fr. J: O Heavenly
King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,

Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life -

come and abide in us, and cleanse us
from every impurity, and save our souls,

O Good One. Amen.
Fr. T: Our dear ones, we are here with

Father John from Jerusalem, with whom
we previously recorded an episode.

You need to know that he is quite busy,
but we couldn't miss this opportunity.

This podcast will likely air around
Epiphany, so we will discuss everything

related to the Baptism of the Lord,
particularly from the perspective of

someone with extensive experience in the
Holy Land and the significance of the

Baptism on-site. Our first question for
Father John, whom we hold in great

affection, is to share his insights
directly from the source—not from hearsay.

We’d like him to explain the well-known
phenomenon of the Jordan River's reversal

during Epiphany. Does this phenomenon
truly occur? What happens, can you shed

some light on it?
Fr. J: “Lord help, Father Teologos!”

I am delighted to reunite here in the
garden of the Mother of God!

We prepare for the significant feast of
the Baptism of the Lord, the Epiphany,

or Theophany, a revelation of God. This
time calls each of us Christians to

reconnect with God through fasting,
confession, and Holy Communion.

Indeed, I might say that it stands as the
second great feast of Jerusalem.

Why the second? Normally, the greatest
feast is the Resurrection of the Lord,

marked by the miracle of the Holy Light
descending at the Lord's tomb.

We discussed this in our first program.
Normally, the second great feast would

be the Nativity of the Lord.
Fr. T: Obviously. Yes.

Fr.J: Which we celebrate in Jerusalem and
Mount Athos on January 7, with a beautiful

service in Bethlehem at the birthplace of
the Lord. However, in terms of procession,

miracle, and the number of Christians, the
Baptism of the Lord emerges as the second

great feast of Jerusalem, following the
Holy Light. Fr. T: Oh, I didn't know that.

Fr. J: And after that, the third great
feast is the Transfiguration on Mount

Tabor. During the night, the Holy Liturgy
is celebrated, and in the morning, after

the Liturgy, many Christians rejoice in
the cloud that envelops the peak of Mount

Tabor, just as it once enveloped the holy
apostles and from heaven, they heard a

voice proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son
in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

At the Jordan, the voice of the Father is
heard again when Jesus Christ enters the

river to be baptized by John. Indeed, you
asked me if this miracle exists.

The miracle of the Jordan’s return exists.
The prophecies speak of this, particularly

during the readings from the Old Testament
on the eve and day of the Epiphany,

proclaiming, “The waters saw You and they
were afraid,” they returned. The moment

Christ entered the Jordan, the river which
flows down to the Dead Sea, – the writings

and stories say that – the Jordan turned
back upstream toward the Sea of Galilee

where it stars. I will also tell you the
exact course of the Jordan.

In the years I served alongside His
Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III of

Jerusalem, I witnessed this miracle
firsthand. As the cross is cast into the

Jordan three times, and the Jordan is
sanctified, many Christians, as evidenced

by a video I have, observed the river's
current—typically strong in winter due to

heavy rains in Israel—flowing toward the
Dead Sea. And indeed, I and the Christians

who participated in this great feast could
see how, after the blessing of the waters,

large whirlpools are forming, reversing
the current and flowing upstream for

a few moments.
Fr. T: Seriously? By itself, like that?

Fr. J: Yes, by itself.
Fr. T: Clearly, power of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. J: Of course, we shouldn’t seek these
miracles – we've talked about it, to see

them physically. It is a proof, an
assurance of God, of His presence through

the holy light, through this moment of the
Jordan’s return, or the cloud on Tabor.

Certainly, they strengthen our faith. Yet
we must emphasize that spiritual feeling

and know that the presence of the Holy
Spirit is felt very strongly then at the

Jordan. Fr. T: It’s good you mentioned
that. Fortunately or unfortunately,

there’s this tendency in the church to
outbid miracles, leading to two extremes.

Fr. J: Yes, and especially in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, you all know that many

videos circulate, including one that has
been around for years. It shows the Stone

of Anointing, the place where Christ was
anointed with oils before being laid in

the tomb. This ritual was inherited from
the ancient Egyptians during Israel's

captivity in Egypt, the practice of
anointing and embalming. And this stone

of anointing is reddish in color.
Christians constantly apply myrrh to

this stone and the light hits it in a
certain way, making it appear red.

Many have filmed it, claiming to be blood
on the Stone of Anointing, and these

videos reach us in Jerusalem, prompting us
to discern their truth. This is not true,

in this case it is not true. It is merely
the myrrh reflecting on the reddish

marble, leading people into a frenzy over
the supposed miracle in Jerusalem. No.

There are many miracles, but we must
approach them with caution.

Fr. T: Obviously.
Fr. J: Even if we feel or experience

something there, it is wise to consult
knowledgeable fathers of the Holy

Sepulchre and ask them if what we witness
is indeed real. Fr. T: So, folks,

seek information from credible sources.
That’s why I have father John here,

to share firsthand and spiritual insights
about what truly happens there.

The miracle at the Jordan is genuinely
divine, while others are merely viral

sensations on WhatsApp or, God knows,
fabrications. I firmly believe that we

embrace Orthodoxy for its therapeutic
power, for the experience of grace,

and for our healing—not for the sake of
miracles alone. We do not seek spectacle.