The Stone of Anointing Jerusalem Holy Sepulcher

The Stone of Anointing, located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in front of the main entrance, holds deep significance in the Christian tradition, particularly for pilgrims visiting this sacred place.

Also known as the Unction Stone, it is believed to be the spot where Jesus' body was prepared for burial after His crucifixion at Golgotha. For both Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians, this pilgrimage is a deeply spiritual experience, tracing the Way of the Cross—the final steps of Jesus’ earthly life.

Jerusalem and Golgotha are considered the spiritual heart of the Christian faith, representing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, through which salvation is offered to the world. 

Miraculous Anointing Stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The anointing stone (Unction stone) is one of the shrines of common Christian significance. There are few of these left over the past 2000 years, and most of them are associated with Israel and Jerusalem. To realize what power the anointing stone conceals in itself, one must visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Now the polished red stone, on which Jesus Christ was prepared for burial, is hidden by noble pale pink marble. Caution is not superfluous - Golgotha is one of the most visited places on the planet. And the anointing stone itself, on which crosses and icons are illuminated and blessed, could be erased from the touch of pilgrims.

Eight lamps, representing the eternal sacred fire, hang above the current stone. Christians think that the Myrrha and the stone stream it flows from have healing properties. For pilgrims, the consecration of icons and pectoral crosses is not a goal in and of itself. However, true believers hold that a cross blessed on the anointing stone will offer protection from any disease.

The anointing stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is currently located in the central vestibule of the modern basilica complex. The mosaic panel behind it is current - it was created only in 1990. To the right of the stone is the path to Golgotha. On the left is a circle where the Mother of God is watching the preparations for the funeral. The circle is also made of marble.

How was the Unction Stone in Jerusalem Found?

Like other iconic Christian relics of the Holy Land, it was acquired by St. Helena, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantine, who converted to Christianity as a Roman emperor. Sometimes in the historical sources, you can read that the gospel text, carved near the stone, has also been preserved since those times. But this is nothing more than a legend.

From Golgotha, on which Jesus was crucified, there was not much left even by the 4th century. Several monstrous oppositions (for their time) and Jewish uprisings significantly changed the face of Jerusalem. Which the Romans, then still pagans, first thoroughly destroyed. And then rebuilt as the Roman city of Capitolina.

The city dedicated to Jupiter and the temple of Aphrodite on the site of Golgotha were erected at the direction of Emperor Hadrian. About which they rarely write anything but good. Probably the last iconic Roman emperor of the pre-Christian era.

He is considered a "builder", at the direction of Hadrian, a lot of architectural monuments were built, and not just in Jerusalem. Therefore, it is not worth blaming the Roman emperor for the deliberate desecration of Christian and Jewish shrines. Firstly, everything was destroyed and defiled before him. Secondly, what is now called Old Jerusalem is the merit of Adrian.

After St. Constantine made Christianity the official religion, his mother, St Helena, began to work, looking for shrines. It was she who found Golgotha, most of which was dug up. And also the place of the cross and the cross itself. Miraculously, Saint Helena received the stone of anointing and the tomb of Jesus.

Modern archaeologists like David Roberts, are generally inclined to agree that the Roman excavations of the Christian Quarter from the time of St. Helena correctly identified the site of Golgotha. However, representatives of some branches of Christianity believe that Golgotha is located elsewhere.

But it is over the Unction stone in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that 8 inextinguishable lamps burn. According to the number of confessions for which this place is a shrine.

Stone of Anointing Blessing 

The blessing associated with the Stone of Anointing is deeply spiritual for Christian pilgrims. Many believe that touching the stone and saying a prayer brings a special connection to the events of Christs death and burial, and it is common for visitors to kneel and pray at the stone, asking for blessings, healing, love, and grace. Some bring items like cloths, rosaries, or crosses to be placed on the stone, believing that these objects will carry the blessings of the holy site with them.

The act of anointing and blessing at the Stone serves as a symbol of faith and devotion, marking an important moment of reflection on the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus.

VISIT THE UNCTION STONE ON A FASCINATING CHRISTIAN JERUSALEM TOUR