The Holy Deposition from the
cross
The first shrine the pilgrims encounter upon entering the
Church of the Resurrection is the Holy Deposition which is
across the entrance of the Church. Its present form is of
later construction as a result of the restoration work of
1810. This holy shrine is composed of a natural rock
identified to be the same holy stone of the funerary
anointment. According to tradition, a part of the original
rock was transferred to Ephesos and from there to
Constantinople. The emperor Manuel I Komnenos, placed it in
the holy palace and later at the Monastery of Pantocrator near
its monument of the tomb. Today the holy shrine is covered
with reddish marble which is not only for decoration but also
to protect it from the habit of pilgrims chipping off small
pieces, to use them as talisman and souvenirs. This holy
marble has a trapezoidal shape and measures 5,75m long and
protrudes 30cm from the ground. The earlier one was destroyed
during the fire of 1810 when a small pillar fell on it and
shattered it.
The holy Deposition relates to the story in the gospel,
according to which Joseph and Nicodemus with Pontius Pilate’s
permission brought down Christ’s body from the cross. They
then anointed it with fragrances and laid it in a new tomb.
(Matt 28:57-61, Mark 15:2-47, Luke 23:50-55 and John
19:38-42). This relationship is further brought to attention
by an inscription around the four sides of the monument, which
states: “THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH HAVING TAKEN DOWN YOUR HOLY
BODY FROM THE CROSS, AND HAVING WRAPPED IT IN CLEAN LINEN
CLOTH, ANOINTED IT WITH FRAGRANT MYRRH AND LAID IT IN A NEW
TOMB”.
At its northern side, on the wall corresponding to the
southern side of Catholicon, there used to be icons of the
