The last journey Jesus took while carrying the cross - Via Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of the Cross, is the most sacred road in the hearts of Christians. This road refers to the last section of the road that Jesus walked after carrying the cross. It starts near the Lion Gate and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was finally crucified. It passes through fourteen stations in between and is about 500 meters long. Although today's Via Dolorosa is only a pilgrimage route designed in the 16th century for Catholics, it has not hindered believers from making pilgrimages. Every Friday at 3pm, Franciscan priests will give free guided tours, leading devout groups to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

The 14 Stations of the Cross are listed below:
The first stop is near the lions, which was once the Roman governor's palace and is now a school for Palestinian Arabs. Jesus was sentenced to death here.
The second stop is now the Franciscan Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross and the Church of Flagellation, where Jesus carried the cross.
The third stop is at the Polish Chapel on the corner, where Jesus fell for the first time.
The fourth station is very close to the third station and is now an Armenian Catholic chapel where Jesus met the Virgin Mary.
The fifth station is now the Franciscan chapel, where Simon of Cyrene was forced to help Jesus carry the cross.
A small convent chapel has now been built at the sixth station. At the sixth station, a woman named Veronica wiped the sweat and blood off Jesus' face with a towel. The towel is now kept in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
Continuing along the souk, you will reach the seventh stop, which is now also the Franciscan Chapel, where Jesus fell again.
The eighth station is located next to the Greek Orthodox church, where Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem and advises them not to cry for themselves.
The place where Jesus fell for the third time in the ninth station is now an Orthodox church.
The tenth to fourteenth stations are all located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They are Station 10: Jesus was stripped of his clothes; Station 11: Jesus was crucified; Station 12: Jesus died on the cross; Station 13: Jesus was unloaded and his body was cleaned; and Station 14: Jesus was buried and resurrected here.

Although the Via Dolorosa has fourteen stations, it is only 500 meters long, so it is not difficult for tourists who travel light. However, some of the stone roads have some height differences and dark slopes, which may not be very comfortable to walk on. However, this journey was extremely difficult for Jesus, who was carrying a cross weighing hundreds of pounds. There are now many souvenir shops on both sides of the Via Dolorosa, selling holy objects and souvenirs related to Jesus or Christianity. The author couldn't help but buy a few wooden crosses with the seals of the fourteen stations on them, which are very worth collecting.

Tickets: Free admission
Opening hours: 24 hours
Address: From Umariya Elementary School next to the Lion Gate at the first stop to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the 14th stop

Post by 旅策谷 Flyplan | Nov 3, 2022