Holy Wednesday in Jerusalem: Venerating the pillar of Christ’s flagellation
On Holy Wednesday, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerated the column to which, according to tradition, Jesus was bound to be scourged. They prayed the “station” dedicated to the column during the daily procession that the Franciscans perform inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. At the end, they intoned the hymn “Columna nobilis” and then, one by one, they performed an act of veneration. March 27, 2024. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
A young Catholic man kisses the column to which, according to tradition, Jesus was bound to be scourged, during the celebration of the Holy Wednesday in Jerusalem. On this day the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerate the two stones that, according to the Gospel of Luke, were stained with the blood of Jesus during his Passion, including the column of the Flagellation, which is now preserved in the Chapel of the Apparition at the Holy Sepulchre, belonging to the Franciscans. March 27, 2024. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
On Holy Wednesday, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerated the column to which, according to tradition, Jesus was bound to be scourged. During the Byzantine era, this column was kept in the basilica of Hagia Sion (Holy Mary in Zion) on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Since the XIV century, the base of the column has been preserved in the Chapel of the Apparition at the Holy Sepulchre, belonging to the Franciscans. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
A Coptic Orthodox monk from the Holy Sepulchre community in front of the column of the Flagellation, which is preserved in the Chapel of the Apparition of the Franciscans. In the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, the Coptic Orthodox monks visited the chapel and venerated the column. March 27, 2024. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
Group photo with the Greek Orthodox community of the Holy Sepulchre after the act of veneration at the column of the Flagellation, in the Chapel of the Apparition of the Franciscans. The two Franciscan friars present are Father Siniša Srebrenović, guardian of the Convent of the Agony (Gethsemane), on the left, and Father Stéphane Milovitch. president of the Holy Sepulchre community and director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Custody of the Holy Land. March 27, 2024. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
In the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, the Greek Orthodox monks of the community of the Holy Sepulchre visited the Chapel of the Apparition of the Franciscans and venerated the column of the Flagellation preserved there. March 27, 2024. | Credit: Marinella Bandini
A friar kisses the stone of agony in the Basilica of Gethsemane during the Holy Wednesday Mass. Right here, on the morning of Holy Wednesday, the “Passion” according to Luke (Lk 22:14-23:56) is chanted, which narrates the transformation of Jesus’ anguish sweat into “drops of blood falling to the ground” as He was praying. At the moment this event is described, the chronicler and the reader of the “Passion” venerate the “stone of agony” at the center of the presbytery. March 27, 2024. | Courtesy of the Custody of the Holy Land
In Jerusalem on Holy Wednesday, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerate the two stones that, according to the Gospel of Luke, were stained with the blood of Jesus during his passion.
The first stone is venerated at the Basilica of the Agony, which stands at the place where Jesus withdrew to pray after the Last Supper in an orchard known as Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
Father Alessandro Coniglio, who presided over the Holy Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of the Agony (Gethsemane), incenses the stone of agony at the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration. This is the very place where Jesus withdrew to pray after the Last Supper, in an orchard known as Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. March 27, 2024. Credit: Courtesy of the Custody of the Holy Land
Right here, on the morning of Holy Wednesday, the Passion according to Luke (Luke 22:14–23:56) is chanted, which narrates the transformation of Jesus’ sweat into “drops of blood falling to the ground” as he was praying. At the moment this event is described, the chronicler and the reader of the Passion venerate the “stone of agony” at the center of the presbytery.
Father Alessandro Coniglio, who presided over the Mass, emphasized to CNA that “the mystery of the blood of Christ is at the heart of Holy Week. In the Old Testament, blood is the sign of life: Jesus giving his blood signifies the gift of his life for us and our redemption.”
Three friars of the Custody of the Holy Land chant the Passion according to Luke (Lk 22:14-23:56) during the Holy Wednesday Mass on March 27, 2024. In Jerusalem on Holy Wednesday, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerate the two stones that, according to the Gospel of Luke, were stained with the blood of Jesus during his Passion. Credit: Courtesy of the Custody of the Holy Land
The other stone venerated is the column of the Flagellation, whose base is now preserved in the Chapel of the Apparition (of Jesus to his mother) at the Holy Sepulcher, belonging to the Franciscans. Tradition says that while Jesus was being struck by the scourge, the column to which he was bound became stained with his blood.
“During the Byzantine era, this column was kept in the basilica of Hagia Sion (Holy Mary in Zion) on Mount Zion in Jerusalem,” Franciscan friar Stéphane Milovitch, president of the Holy Sepulcher community and director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Custody of the Holy Land, told CNA.
Already in the fourth century, the Spanish pilgrim Egeria in her diary spoke of this column and recounted that the veneration, at that time, took place at dawn on Good Friday at the Cenacle (upper room).
The column of the Flagellation, made of red porphyry, is kept in a niche within the Chapel of the Apparition inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, where it has been preserved since the 14th century. On Holy Wednesday, a day especially dedicated to its veneration, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land prepare a special adornment with drapes and flowers for the column. March 27, 2024. Credit: Marinella Bandini
After the destruction of the Byzantine basilica, the traces of the column were lost, but it reappeared in the 14th century at the Holy Sepulcher, where it is still visible today in a niche next to the altar in the Chapel of the Apparition.
“The pilgrim Felix Fabri, a German Dominican who arrived here in the late 1400s, speaks of three columns of the Flagellation,” Milovitch recounted, “one at the Holy Sepulcher, one at Santa Prassede in Rome, and one in Lyon, France, of which the memory has been lost today. These are very ancient traditions.”
The friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerated the column to which, according to tradition, Jesus was bound to be scourged. In Jerusalem, on Holy Wednesday, the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land venerate the two stones that, according to the Gospel of Luke, were stained with the blood of Jesus during his Passion, including the column of the Flagellation. Tradition says that while Jesus was being struck by the scourge, this column to which he was bound became stained with his blood. March 27, 2024. Credit: Marinella Bandini
In front of the red porphyry column, surrounded by drapes and ornaments on this day of remembrance, the friars prayed the station dedicated to the column during the daily procession that the Franciscans undertake inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. At the end, they intoned the hymn “Columna Nobilis” and then, one by one, performed an act of veneration.
In the afternoon, members of other Christian churches — Greek Orthodox, Armenians, and Copts — also arrived to venerate the column of the Flagellation.
In the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, the Armenian monks of the community of the Holy Sepulcher visit the Chapel of the Apparition of the Franciscans and venerate the column of the Flagellation preserved there. After taking turns kissing the column, they all pray together in front of it. March 27, 2024. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Born and raised in Italy, Marinella Bandini has been a professional journalist since 2008. She works for several news agencies and online newspapers in the Catholic space. Currently based in Jerusalem, she collaborates with the Custody of the Holy Land.
Trending
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Our mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, presided over the vigil on March 26 in St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island.
As the Catholic Church in the Holy Land entered Holy Week by literally retracing the steps of Jesus’ passion, the Orthodox Churches took their first steps into Lent.
