The Via Dolorosa (Way of the Sorrows), the route that Jesus is believed to have carried his cross to Calvary. The path is marked by the Stations of the Cross.
The route is very plain and unassuming. It begins behind a doorway off a narrow street named Via Dolorosa.
The first two Stations of the Cross, the condemnation and flogging, are adjacent to one another and marked by two churches.
The Church of the Flagellation is marked by a distinct crown of thorns located on the underside of the dome above the alter.
The next seven stations lie along the path, and the path itself, is not well marked. Some of the stations have a small shrine or chapel to the side of the roadway or they may be located down a flight of stairs or two while others are simply 'marked'. Not all of the chapels were accessible during our visit.
The photos below mark the third station where Jesus fell for the first time, the forth station where he met his mother, the six station where Veronica wipes the face of Jesus and the eighth station where Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem who weep for him.
The final five Stations of the Cross all lie within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. These start with Christ being stripped of his clothes and end at his tomb.
The exterior of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a very plain building. It is interesting to note that you can enter the church without having to undergo any security checks whatsoever which was certainly unusual in Jerusalem.
Jesus is nailed to the cross.
This is the rock upon which the cross was mounted. It is located directly under an alter.
Jesus dies on the cross.
This is the Stone of Unction upon which the body of Jesus was cleansed. It is common practice for worshipers to rub the stone with a cloth containing oil.
At the final station, Jesus is laid in his tomb which is also located within the church. It is possible to visit the interior of the empty tomb itself.
A photo of the dome located above the tomb.
