Via Dolorosa

Of course, no trip to Jerusalem is complete without walking the Via Dolorosa. And it was a very interesting place. First, as you'll be able to see by a couple of the pictures, the entire way is a bazaar. In fact, the best hummus restaraunt in Jerusalem is located across from Station 7 (Friends--if you are ever there). And the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was so crowded that my pictures are not too good because I couldn't get very close! But here they are:

Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death -- Condemnation Chapel -- near the location of the Antonia Fortress.

Station 2 -- Jesus receives the cross -- Chapel of the Flagellation


Station 3 --Jesus falls the first time

Station 4 --Jesus meets His Mother

Station 5 --Simon of Cyrene carries the cross

Station 6 -- Veronica wipes Jesus' face with her veil

Station 7 -- Jesus falls the second time
Station 8 --Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem


Station 9 -- Jesus falls the third time -- Take your pick: Coptic Orthodox or Ethiopian.

The final five stations are located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Station 10 -- Jesus is stripped of His garments

Station 11 -- Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Station 12 -- Jesus dies on the cross


Station 13 -- Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Pieta)

Station 14 -- Jesus is laid in the tomb

Let me conclude with a quote from the Via Dolorosa guide:

What is a "Holy Place?"
It is not, actually, the place where Jesus walked. It is:
--Where the Church venerates a mystery of Christ's life.
--a place, sanctified by the prayers of the Faithful.