Holy Lance (Spear of Destiny)

The Holy Lance (left) on display with other items from the Imperial Regalia in Vienna

About the Holy Lance

The Holy Lance, also called the Spear of Destiny, Spear of Longinus, or Holy Spear, is a sacred relic believed to be the lance that pierced Jesus’ side during His crucifixion. The Bible’s Gospel of John (19:34) says a soldier stabbed Jesus after His death, letting blood and water flow—a sign of His mercy and love. Named after Saint Longinus in later stories, this holy treasure is cherished as a gift from Jesus, our Savior. Many places claim to hold it—Vienna, Rome, Vagharshapat, and Antioch—each honoring it in faith. Over centuries, it’s been used in worship and seen as a promise of victory in battles.

Its Appearance

The Vienna Holy Lance, the most famous, is an iron spearhead, about 20 inches long (50 centimeters), with a sharp tip. It’s wrapped in a gold cuff added by Charles IV around 1354, marked “Lancea et Clavus Domini” (The Lance and Nail of the Lord), with a nail from the cross inside. A silver cuff from Henry IV (1084-1105) names it the lance of Saint Maurice too. The Rome lance is a simpler blade, kept in St. Peter’s Basilica. In Vagharshapat, it’s a spearhead in a 17th-century reliquary. The Antioch lance, found in 1098, was lost to time. Each relic, though different, carries the mark of Jesus’ suffering in its aged form.

Its Journey

The Holy Lance starts in Jerusalem around 33 AD, piercing Jesus’ side. By the 6th century, pilgrims saw it there—mentioned in 530 at the Holy Sepulchre, 570 at the Church of Zion, and 574 by Gregory of Tours. In 614, Persians took it to Constantinople, but Nicetas returned it to the Hagia Sophia. By 670, Arculf saw it back in Jerusalem. In the 10th century, it was in Constantinople’s Church of the Virgin of the Pharos. Around 923, Henry the Fowler may have bought it from Rudolf II of Burgundy, linking it to German emperors. In 933, it aided victory at the Battle of Riade. In 1098, Crusaders found a lance in Antioch’s Church of St. Peter, boosting their win at the Siege. By 1204, a fragment was in a lost icon after a battle. In 1242, a lance from Constantinople reached Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle, later lost. In 1424, the German lance moved to Nuremberg, then to Vienna in 1796, settling in the Hofburg Palace by 1912. In 1492, Sultan Bayezid II sent a lance to Rome’s St. Peter’s. In Armenia, a lance from Apostle Thaddeus was in Geghard by the 13th century, moving to Vagharshapat in 1805. Each relic has its own path, treasured through time.

Its Meaning

These relics, with their old metal and stories, have been loved for over 1,900 years. They remind us of Jesus’ great love—how a spear of pain became a sign of hope and forgiveness. In Vienna, it’s part of the Imperial Regalia, tied to victories like Riade and Lechfeld (955). In Rome, it rests near Saint Longinus’ statue, inspiring prayer. In Vagharshapat, it’s worshipped yearly on the feast of Thaddeus and Bartholomew. In Antioch, it once gave Crusaders strength. Kept safe today, they bring peace and thanks, showing Jesus’ mercy endures, a holy gift lifting our hearts to Him.

Timeline of the Holy Lance

• Around 33 AD: Pierces Jesus’ side in Jerusalem.
• 410: Possibly taken by Alaric to Cosenza, Italy (unconfirmed).
• 530-570: Seen in Jerusalem at Holy Sepulchre and Church of Zion.
• 614: Captured by Persians, taken to Constantinople, then returned.
• Around 923: Possibly bought by Henry the Fowler for German emperors.
• 933: Used by Henry at Battle of Riade.
• 1098: Found in Antioch by Crusaders during Siege.
• 1204: Fragment lost in Constantinople battle with Henry of Flanders.
• 1242: A lance arrives in Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle from Constantinople.
• 13th Century: Noted in Armenia’s Geghard monastery.
• 1424: German lance moved to Nuremberg.
• 1492: Lance gifted by Bayezid II to Rome’s St. Peter’s.
• 1796: Nuremberg lance moved to Vienna.
• 1805: Armenian lance moved to Vagharshapat.
• 1912: Vienna lance settled in Hofburg Palace.
• Present Day: Kept in Vienna, Rome, Vagharshapat; Antioch’s lost.

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