Via Dolorosa
Via Dolorosa ("Way of Grief" in Latin) is a road in the old city of Jerusalem, a path where Jesus was lead in agony, carrying the crucifixion cross. There are a total of 14 stations along this path.
Luke 23, 26: "And as they led him away..."
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Overview:
Via Dolorosa ("Way of Grief" in Latin) is a road in the old city of Jerusalem, a path where Jesus was lead in agony, carrying the crucifixion cross. There are a total of 14 stations along this path where events occurred on the way to the Golgotha hill, located at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There are 8 stations along the road itself and 6 additional stations in the compound of the church.
Location:
Via Dolorosa is located within the old city of Jerusalem. It starts from the place where he was tried and convicted - near the Lions' gate on the eastern side (Muslim quarter). It ends in the crucifixion place, Golgotha, where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located in the west side of the old city (Christian quarter).
The path is shown (in a bright blue line) on the model of the Byzantine city (displayed at St Peter Gallicantu church).
Photos:
Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death
Station 1 is located on the north-west corner of the temple mount, across the street from the Franciscan convent of the Flagellation (station 2). This is the present position of a the Al-Omariya school, as seen in the photo below with the round sign "I" (which is "1" in Roman numerals).
The site was in the Roman times the place of the seat of Pontius Pilate, located in the Antonia fortress, and the place of the hall of judgment. John 18-28: "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment". Jesus is condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, as per John 19:16: "Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified".
Station 2: Jesus receives His Cross
The second station is located near the Franciscan convent of the Flagellation, across the street from the first station. It is seen below, behind the sign with the station number "II". At this station Jesus receives the cross (John 19:17, 19): "And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha...And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross...".
Station 3: Jesus falls the first time under His Cross
This station is located on the corner of via Dolorosa and El Wad (Hagai) street, which is seen in the photo below. At this point Via Dolorosa makes a sharp turn to the south-east, following the direction of the western side of the temple mount, until it turns again westwards at the fifth station.
At this station Jesus falls for the first time under the weight of the cross that he is carrying. A stone tablet can be seen in the center of the photo below, with Jesus fallen on the floor under the cross.
At this site is the Polish church, seen below on the right side. The Austro-Hungarian hospice, which serves as a hospital, is seen on the left background.
It is interesting to see a short section of the Byzantine road at this section. This pavement is part of the "secondary" Cardo, which once connected the Damascus (Shkhem) gate to the Dung (Ha-Ashpot) gate in the south, as seen in the Madaba map. Although the stones were several hundred years later, they followed the same route of the Roman road that existed during the times of Jesus.
Station 4: Jesus meets Mary His Mother
This station is located very close to station 3, further south on El-Wad (Hagai) street. Here, Jesus met his mother Mary according to the tradition. An Armenian church ("Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm") is located behind the walls of this site. As per John 19, 26: "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!".
Station 5: Simon helps Jesus to carry His Cross
This station is located at the junction of Via Dolorosa road and El-Wad ("The Gai") road. A small Franciscan church is located at this station, dedicated to Simon the Cyrenian, who assisted Jesus with the cross. This is based on Luke 23, 26: "And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus".
Note that Cyrenia is located in modern Lybia.
Click on the photos to view in higher resolution...
This small house was established in 1229 and was the Franciscan's first site in Jerusalem.
An old stone, located on the right side, has a cavity which is said to be the imprint of Jesus hand.
Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Station 6 is further west up the hill, and is dedicated to the woman (St. Veronica) who wiped Jesus face. This is based on Luke 23, 27: "And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him".
Her name, Veronica, may have been based on the Latin
words "Vera"+"Icon", or "true image" - the face of Jesus on the woman's
handkerchief.
A small church ("The Holy Face") is located at this station. On the old stone pillar is an inscription with the station's name.
Station 7: Jesus falls the second time
At this station Jesus falls the second time.
The Via Dolorosa procession takes place every Friday at 3pm , starting from Station 1, and is led by the Franciscans. It is recommended to follow them along the route.
Station 8: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem
Station 8 is located closest to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and is dedicated by the Greek Orthodox to Saint Charalampos; their monastery is located behind the wall. The station is based on Luke 23, 27: "But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children".
A stone with a monogram, embedded into the wall, marks the station ("IC-XC NI-KA", means: Jesus Christ conquers).
The Via Dolorosa procession on Friday afternoon is seen in the photo below stopping at station 8.
Station 9: Jesus falls the second time
At this station Jesus falls the 3rd time.
Station 10: Jesus is stripped of His garments
Station 10 is located at the entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in the room called the Chapel of the Franks. It is seen in the photo below on the right side, with stairs that lead to the small chapel. At this station Jesus was stripped off his clothes, as in Mark 15,24: "And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take".
Stations 11-14:
These stations are also located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:
Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross
Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross
Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.
Links:
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