The Holy Stairs in Rome that can only be climbed on your knees

Just across the street from the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome is an unusual sacred site for pilgrims that they access on their knees. Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs, is a set of 28 marble steps encased in wood for preservation. These are the stairs that led up to the Praetorium in which it is believed Jesus climbed before standing before Pontius Pilate. 

The stairs were brought to Rome by St. Helena in the 4th century along with other sacred relics of the Passion. St. Helena could have reconstructed the Praetorium, but she didn’t. She was only concerned with the stairs that touched the feet of Christ. Their authenticity cannot be completely confirmed but the marble is of the same type as found in Jerusalem and the steps do appear to be missing from the ancient site in Jerusalem.  

Pilgrims are allowed to ascend the steps only on their knees as an act of penance. The wood encasement was a later addition after the marble became so warped from pilgrims doing this for so many centuries. It is not as easy as it looks, and Americans tend to have a task orientated, even if prayerful, attitude toward the climb whereas other nationalities wouldn’t think twice about praying a rosary on each step. It is best not to get behind those pilgrims unless you plan to do the same as “road rage” on the Holy Stairs defeats the purpose. Just when you feel the aches in your knees part way up, a little old Italian nun scoots by you with ease like she has been doing this penitential act daily for many years.  

The stairs lead to the “Holy of Holies” which was the personal chapel of the early popes. Today there is a busy street between St. John Lateran and the Holy Stairs, but in the Middle Ages, this was one complex. The Holy of Holies was the most venerated sanctuary in Rome and contained many relics of the saints and one of Rome’s most venerated images called the Acheropita (Image of the Most Holy Savior) that is “not painted by human hand.” The relics have since been dispersed around Rome’s churches and the Vatican, but the Archeropita remains and can be seen today once the pilgrim emerges from the top of the stairs. 

For those who cannot climb on their knees, there is a parallel set of stairs that people use like a normal set of stairs. If you are in Rome and get a chance to visit St. John Lateran, make sure to first check the hours of when the Holy Stairs are open because the hours are limited.