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Home , Calvary, Via Dolorosa

Because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located within the walls of the The of , 19th century scholars disputed this as the actual site of Every Friday afternoon at 3pm (the time died) Franciscan friars lead Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. They did not realize that the city walls had been hundreds of Christians in a procession through the Old City of Jerusalem, expanded in the years after the crucifixion. stopping at 14 Stations of the Cross representing significant experiences of Jesus In 1883, General , a distinguished British officer, was on his way to crucifixion. These pilgrims are accompanied by Muslim escorts, in looking through the window of his hotel room near the and Ottoman uniforms of red fez, gold-embroidered waistcoat and baggy blue trousers became convinced that this hill was the place of Jesus crucifixion. A recently The Via Dolorosa (or the Way of Sorrows) is a spiritual journey with Jesus to the discovered tomb nearby was heralded as the tomb that cross. While the actual route Jesus followed on his way to is uncertain, for provided for Jesus’ burial. The Church of England supported Gordon’s proposal centuries faithful Christians have traveled along this traditional path. From its (the support was later withdrawn). It should be noted that the site was proposed starting point, just inside St Stephen’s Gate. pilgrims wind their way westward to as the true Calvary thirty years prior to Gordon’s “discovery.” the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the last five Stations are located. Today, there is little or no support for the proposition that this is the true Calvary. Never-the-less, this tranquil spot in the bustling city of Jerusalem is marvelous place to meditate upon the sacrifice of Christ.

Station I Station VI Jesus is tried and condemned by . Veronica wipes the face of Jesus (:11‐24; :1‐15; :1‐25; John 18:28‐19:16) The Chapel of St. Veronica marks the Sixth Station on the Via Dolorosa. According to Christian tradition, a woman named Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with her veil. The image of Jesus’ face was imprinted on the cloth. Today, the veil The First Station is at the northwestern corner of the Mount, inside of Veronica is among the treasures kept in Saint Peter’s in the Vatican. the Islamic Al-Omariyah School. It is across the street from the Chapel of the The name, Veronica, is derived from the words vera and , meaning true image. Flagellation. This is where the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, the Some ancient traditions identify Veronica as the woman Jesus healed of a would have stood in the time of Jesus. hemorrhage. She is also said to have married Zacchaeus, the tax collector of .

Steps leading up to the entrance of the Al-Omariyah School

Station II Jesus is scourged and given the cross. (Matthew 27:26‐31; Mark 15:15‐20; :1‐3) The Second Station is across the street from the Al-Omariyah School in a Franciscan compound containing the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Chapel of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross. The Chapel of the Flagellation has beautiful stained-glass windows behind the and on either side of the sanctuary showing Pilate washing his hands; Jesus being scourged; and expressing joy at his release. The Franciscan order was established by Saint Francis in the late 12th century. The have been in the since the early 13th century, when they resided in a small house along the Via Dolorosa. In 1342 Pope Clement VI made the Franciscans the official custodians of the Holy places. In the Roman , the Franciscans still have this status.

The Edicule Windows inside the Chapel of the Flagellation Station III Station XIV Jesus falls for the first time. Jesus is buried. (Although not mentioned in the , according to Christian tradition, The Rotunda, or Anastasis, is the round area in the center of the church. It Jesus fell three times on the way to Calvary) has a few original columns of Constantine’s 4th-century church. The dome of the Rotunda features a twelve-pointed star symbolizing the twelve apostles. The Third Station is at the intersection of the Via Dolorosa with Al-Wad Road. The Armenian Catholic Patriarch built a small chapel built there during the In the center of the Rotunda is the Tomb of Christ. The large, boxy shrine 15th century. It was renovated with the financial assistance of the Polish army in around it is the edicule. The current structure (supported by scaffolding for 1947-48. There is a marble relief above the door showing Jesus falling as he carries protection against earthquakes) was built after the fire of 1808. It replaced one the cross. dating from 1555, which replaced the original 4th century shrine that the sultan Hakim destroyed in 1009.

There are two small chapels inside the edicule. The first is the Chapel of the Angel. It has an altar containing a piece of the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then you enter the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christendom. This is the 14th Station of the Cross, the tomb of Christ. A marble slab, purposely cracked to deter looters, covers the place where the body of Christ was laid. A vase with candles sits where his head rested.

Station XIII Station IV Jesus is taken down from the cross. Mary embraces Jesus. The Thirteenth Station is between Stations XI and XII at the Altar of Stabat (According to Christian tradition, Jesus meet and was embraced by his Mater. mother as he made his way to Calvary) The Fourth Station is at the Armenian Church, Our Lady of the Spasm. In the church courtyard there is a mosaic of sandals which marks the place Mary was said to be standing when she embraced Jesus as he carried the cross through Jerusalem.

Station V Station XII picks up the cross Jesus dies on the cross. (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26) The Greek Orthodox Rock of Calvary chapel marks the Twelfth Station. The Rock of Golgotha can be seen under glass on either side of the main altar. There is The Fifth Station is marked by a small Franciscan chapel commemorating a hole beneath the altar where you can touch the rock. Simon of Cyrene (located in modern Libya), who was forced to help Jesus carry his cross. This site was the first holy placed established by the Franciscans in Jerusalem. A stone embedded in the outside wall of the chapel is said to hold the handprint of Jesus.

Station XI Station VI Jesus is nailed to the cross. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus The Eleventh Station is located inside a Franciscan Chapel featuring a 12th- The Chapel of St. Veronica marks the Sixth Station on the Via Dolorosa. century mosaic of Jesus being nailed to the cross and a Medici altar from Florence. According to Christian tradition, a woman named Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with her veil. The image of Jesus’ face was imprinted on the cloth. Today, the is among the treasures kept in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The name, Veronica, is derived from the words vera and icon, meaning true image. Some ancient traditions identify Veronica as the woman Jesus healed of a hemorrhage. She is also said to have married Zacchaeus, the tax collector of Jericho.

Station VII Station X Jesus falls for the second time Jesus is stripped of his garments. Nearing the Judgment Gate in the city wall, Jesus fell a second time. There The Tenth Station is located at the entrance to the Franciscan Chapel. is an ancient Roman column located inside the Franciscan chapel marking the second fall.

Station VIII Jesus consoles the Daughters of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27‐31) The Eighth Station is marked by a small cross carved on the outer wall of a Greek Orthodox .

Station IX Stations X – XIV Jesus falls for the third time. The last five Stations are inside the Church of the Holy Nearing Calvary, Jesus falls a third time. This Station is marked by a Roman Sepulcher pillar at the entrance to the Coptic Patriarchate next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matthew 27:35‐61; Mark 15:22‐47; Luke 23:32‐56; John 19:16‐42) The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has always been one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. It is both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Jesus. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is shared by Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Christians. The 1852 Status Quo of the Holy Places decree strictly defines rules and privileges for these Christians. Still, there are frequent arguments and less frequent fist fights between the monks over matters as trivial as whether a door should be opened or closed, or the placement of a chair.