Monday, June 18, 2007

Steps Jesus walked to trial restored to glory

One of the Roman Catholic Church's holiest relics, which contains the steps believed to have been climbed by Jesus on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate, has been restored to its former glory.

The Santa Scala, or Holy Stairs, were brought to Rome from Jerusalem in the fourth century AD and placed in the former papal palace opposite the basilica of St John Lateran.
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The Holy Stairs originally led to the praetorium, or judgment hall, of Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem. Worshippers believe that they were sanctified by Jesus's footsteps.

They were brought from Jerusalem to Rome in 326AD by St Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, and placed near their current site. The church and palace of St John Lateran were given by Constantine to the Holy See.

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