- Address: Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Length: 2,7 m;
- Width: 1,3 m;
- Thickness: 30 cm.
The anointing stone, which is right in front of the central entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher , is one of the main Christian shrines. It was installed in 1830 on the site of the 13th stop of the Way of the Via Dolorosa . It was here that the body of Jesus Christ was laid after being removed from the crucifixion.
Anointing Stone - Description
As the Holy Scriptures say, in this place Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepared the body for burial, anointed with the world and aloe, and after wrapping it in a shroud, they carried it and put it in a coffin. The Stone of Chrismation in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is considered miraculous and myrrh-streaming.
In order to preserve the original stone it was hidden with a plate of pale pink marble, 2.77 m long. The width of the stone is 1.5 m, and the thickness is 30 cm. Despite the fact that it is hidden under the stove, if you touch the shrine, you can feel a pleasant smell and feel a soothing effect.
The history of the Stone of Confirmation is such that earlier it belonged to only one confession - Catholic Franciscan. At the moment, the shrine belongs to four confessions. Eight lamps burn constantly above the stone:
- four - from the Greek church;
- two - from the Armenian;
- one from Coptic;
- one - from the Catholic.
It is well known that the lamps were made at the request of Russian merchants and presented to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as a token of respect. Behind the stone is a mosaic panel, and next to the marble plaque is written the Gospel text in Greek.
If tourists visit Jerusalem for the first time, the Confirmation Stone and do not know what actions should be taken, then you can just stand in this sacred place.
What is the value of the Stone?
People come to the Confirmation Stone with good intentions, to pray for sins before the savior, there is a strong positive energy in it. Any thing that touches a stone is considered sanctified. If tourists intend to attach small icons or crosses to the Stone, other items bought in souvenir shops, it is better to remove the packaging to consecrate these things, rather than packaging.
Once in this place, you must observe certain rules of conduct, for example, it is strictly forbidden to sit on a stone. Women wipe a plate with a handkerchief or a scarf, thereby sanctifying a thing, after which it becomes festive, and it is worn only for ceremonial services. If the scarf has remained in the hotel room or even at home, despair is not necessary. Near the temple you can always buy a white headscarf for about 15 shekels.
How to get there?
The Stone of Confirmation is located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. You can get to him through the Ethiopian church or come up with "Shuk Afitimios", and then through the gate of the "Market of Dyers". The church leads to the street "Christian", after which you should go down to St. Helena.
By public transport, you can get to the Jaffa Gate of the Old City by buses No. 3, 19, 13, 41, 30, 99, then you have to walk to the Temple.