Stone of Anointing

In the Bible

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.

John 19:38–40Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.

Tradition

By tradition, the body of Jesus was laid here to be prepared for burial; pilgrims kneel to touch the stone and lay on it crosses, icons and cloths.

Here today

A slab of reddish stone, laid in 1810 after a fire, just inside the entrance of the church, with lamps hanging above.

Through the eyes of old pilgrims

Before you is a marble slab, which covers the Stone of Unction, whereon the Saviour's body was laid to prepare it for burial. It was found necessary to conceal the real stone in this way in order to save it from destruction. Pilgrims were too much given to chipping off pieces of it to carry home.Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, 1869

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).