According to church tradition, the area of Bethabara, east of Jericho, where the monastery and museum are located, is said to be the site of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by Saint John the Baptist, celebrated annually on January 6/19 on the great feast of Theophany. It is also believed to be the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River under the command of Joshua. Furthermore, the cave where Saint John the Baptist lived in the desert survived nearby during early Christian times.