His Eminence Bishop Christoforos, the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Jordan, led the Divine Liturgy at the ancient Roman Church of Saint Malachius in Makawir, Madaba, for the first time in 1,400 years.

This was done in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The service included participation from venerable fathers and priests, nuns from the Monastery of Makrino - Saint John the Baptist in Greece, and various public and diplomatic figures.

Bishop Christoforos highlighted the rich Roman-Byzantine history of Makawir and the early flourishing of Christianity in the region. He noted that the Jerusalem Church appointed a bishop in the fourth century with the title of Archbishop of the Jordan River, responsible for local monasteries.

The Bishop also discussed the area's monastic life, which turned urban noise into desert peace through asceticism, under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist.

The ancient church, named after Saint Malachius, dates back to the sixth century AD and features mosaic floors, Greek inscriptions, and a central apse and lintel. Located near Mount Makawir, where Saint John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded, it was discovered in 1990 by the Department of Antiquities.