Also known as the Stone of Unction, the Stone of the Anointing is where the followers of Jesus put His body down after He was released from the crucifix. At the Stone of the Anointing, Christ’s body was prepared for burial. At this site, His body was wrapped in shrouds and anointed. Back in the day, this was the way the Jews prepared the deceased for the burial ceremony.
The Stone of the Anointing is polished. The width of this stone is one meter, and its length is six meters. Most pilgrims follow the custom of visiting the stone and kissing it. Some pilgrims may even rub the stone with oil and then wipe the oil away with a cloth.
The Importance Of The Stone Of The Anointing In Christianity
For Christians, the Stone of the Anointing holds a lot of significance. That’s why many Christians from the world over visit this site regularly. Besides laying down Jesus after His crucifixion, the Stone of the Anointing is where Mary Magdalene witnessed the Resurrection. For the unwashed masses, Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the rising of Lord Jesus. Even when the Lord was resurrected, Mary Magdalene never realized it was Him; she rather thought that she was palavering with a stranger.
Most Christians consider the Resurrection as one of the most defining moments in the history of humanity. It was because Resurrection marks the period when Jesus conquered death. From that moment onwards, most of His believers started to believe that the Lord could defeat death and live eternally. And it’s needless to say that the Stone of the Anointing artfully captured the significance of this historic event.
Today, What Do People Do When They Visit This Significant Site?
No doubt, the Stone of the Anointing has remained a holy pilgrimage site for most Christians even today. Most pilgrims and devotees form queues to either rub the holy stone with oil or plant a kiss on it. Earlier, devotees only used oil to rub the stone – but, today, people even use rosewater for this purpose. Some priests who visit the site may even burn incense sticks around the stone. In some cases, you might even see pilgrims putting their own crosses over the stone to pass the anointing or unction.
Conclusion
So, now, you know the historical significance of the Stone of the Anointing. People from all over the world have visited this religious site to offer prayers and pay their respect. Pilgrims have visited this site to connect with the renewal of Jesus. Many devotees have even felt unalloyed happiness whenever they kissed the stone or rubbed oil or rosewater on it. So, now, it’s your turn to tell us whether you’re interested in seeing the Stone of the Anointing in the coming time. If yes, then also tell us what kind of prayers do you plan on offering when you visit the holy site. We’re all eyes to see your comments! Godspeed, dear reader.
