Memorial of Moses on Mt. Nebo reopens following long restoration

Holy site is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The Memorial of Moses has reopened in Jordan following a lengthy restoration. The mountaintop site is the location where Moses saw the Holy Land before his death. The site is holy to people of all three major Abrahamic religions.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo marks the spot where Moses saw the Holy Land before his death. The site has been sacred to all members of the Abrahamic religions since ancient times. The earliest known church was likely built on the site in the third century AD.

The site has undergone numerous restorations throughout the ages and multiple buildings have been constructed there. The most recent restoration took a decade to complete. Cooperation between Christians and Muslims was essential to restoration of the site.

The site is maintained by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, which acquired the site in 1932. Since then they have maintained the site and its beautiful Byzantine mosaics, for which it is famous.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, special envoy of Pope Francis and Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, was asked to officiate at the ceremony reopening the site. He told the crowd, "We are always walking to the Promised Land of peace, fraternity, justice, freedom for all the world in the name of Jesus Christ."

The Cardinal also praised the state of Jordan which has preserved the site and many other ancient locations. Jordan was also recognized for accepting refugees from Syria.

Mount Nebo is east of Jerusalem and overlooks the Dead Sea to its southeast. It is also the site of a Franciscan monastery. St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI have visited the site.

Visitors will find a place to pray and may enjoy over 8,600 square feet of Byzantine era mosaics.

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