Friday, February 28, 2014

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The Via Dolorosa ("Way of Grief")

Sunday, ‎December ‎22, ‎2013
Continued ....
Second Day of my Holy Land Trip, Palestine, Jerusalem (F)


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My Holy Land Trip



The Via Dolorosa ("Way of Grief")


Station 1:  Jesus is condemned to death



FIRST STATION – 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 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 them Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment". Jesus is condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, as per John 19:16: " Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified".


Map of The Via Dolorosa
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), with indication of the 14 stations. You can point and click on a purple point to navigate to the selected station.



Station 1
Flagellation Church


Station 2: Jesus receives His Cross

SECOND STATION - Jesus receives His Cross

The second station is located  near the compound of the Franciscan monastery, 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 2

Station 2, Another view

Station 2, inside the Flagellation Church

The photo below shows a view of the first section of the Via Dolorosa road, looking towards Mount of Olives (seen in the far background). Mount of Olives is accessible through the Lions' (St. Stephen's) gate which is located at the edge of this road. Along the left side are the walls of the Franciscan monastery.




Station 3: Jesus falls the first time under His Cross


THIRD STATION - 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



Polish Armenian Catholic Chapel,

The painting on the wall shows Jesus falling
under the weight of the cross,
with the angels watching and praying.


Station 4: Jesus meets Mary His Mother

FOURTH STATION - Jesus meets Mary His Mother


This 4th 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 4

It is interesting to see a short section of the Roman/Byzantine street between the 3rd and 4th stations. This pavement was probably part of the "secondary" Cardo, which once connected the Damascus (Shchem) gate to the Dung (Ha-Ashpot) gate in the south, as seen in the Madaba map.

Although the stones were paved several hundred years later, they followed the same route of the Roman Street that existed during the times of Jesus. The may have been part of the Roman street, so conceivably Jesus could have walked on the stones


Ancient tile pavement on the street
between the 3rd and 4th stations


Station 5: Simon helps Jesus to carry His Cross

FIFTH STATION - Simon helps Jesus to carry His Cross


The 5th station is located at the corner of Via Dolorosa road and El-Wad ("The Gai") road. At this corner the road turns sharply to the right, and then starts climbing up the hill with a series of stairs.

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".


This is the First Franciscan chapel in the site of Jerusalem, 
established in 1229 
Station 5

An old square stone, located on the right side of the structure, has a cavity which is said to be the imprint of Jesus hand.

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