Greek Orthodox Church of St. George

The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George is one of Madaba’s most important religious and historical landmarks and is internationally renowned as the home of the famous Madaba Mosaic Map. Located in the heart of the city, the present church was constructed in the late nineteenth century over the remains of an earlier Byzantine church.

During construction of the modern church, an extraordinary sixth-century mosaic was uncovered on the floor of the earlier Byzantine structure. Known today as the Madaba Mosaic Map, it is one of the world’s most significant surviving examples of ancient cartography and provides a remarkable representation of the Holy Land during the Byzantine period.

The surviving mosaic depicts numerous historic towns, landscapes and religious locations, including Jerusalem, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea and other places across the region. Jerusalem is represented in exceptional detail, providing historians and archaeologists with valuable insight into the geography and architecture of the region during the sixth century.

Today, St. George’s Church remains an active place of worship as well as one of Jordan’s most visited Christian heritage attractions. Its combination of religious significance, Byzantine archaeology and extraordinary mosaic art makes it an essential destination for visitors exploring Madaba, widely known as Jordan’s “City of Mosaics.”