Israel Trip: Jerusalem - Via Dolorosa Pilgrimage (Part 2)

As one who is born and raised as a Catholic (and finished my primary and secondary schooling in a Catholic school), I am so familiar with the Station of the Cross.  We always commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ to save mankind.

The tour within Jerusalem walled ancient city is called the Via Dolorosa pilgrimage (the Traditional way).  I think most of the package tours here follow this route.  So let's start with the pilgrimage. Pardon me if I may have missed to take pictures of some of the stations as I'm not listening to the tour guide.  Ako na talaga ang pasaway!

Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death.

Station 2: Jesus took up His cross.  This is located in the Chapel of the Flagellation. I think we didn't go here.

Station 3: This is where Jesus fell for the first time under the weight of His cross.

Station 4: This is where Mary watched her son go by the cross; located now in the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm. Again, we didn't go here.

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene was forced by Roman soldiers to help Jesus carry His cross.

there is a spot there with a hand print

Station 6: St. Veronica wiped Jesus face with her handkerchief.

this is where St. Veronica wiped Jesus' face that is covered with blood

this now a home for nuns 

This site is now a home for nuns.  They also sell some merchandise here (posters,etc.).  There is also a chapel here.  We are not allowed to take some pictures of the chapel and the nuns.


Station 7: Jesus fell the second time.

Station 8:  Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.


Station 9: Jesus falls the third time.


Station 10: Jesus is stripped off His garments.

this is a part of the Mount of Calgary

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

Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross.

this is where Jesus' cross stood..the leftmost is the alter of Crucifixion

You will be overwhelmed when you see this site as the real stone is still here.  You'll realized that this is for real.  Everything that you have read from the bible is real.


Station 13: Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Disposition or Lamentation).

notice the stone of Calvary where His body was laid

In this site, there is a hole where you can touch the stone.  I rubbed this with the religions icons that I bought.  That is why it is highly recommended to buy already your souvenirs before reaching this station so you can have them be blessed.  For a more practical approach, please buy your rosaries and other religious icons in Tel Aviv since prices there are six times lower compared to Jerusalem.  Just bring them in Jerusalem to be blessed.

I lit some candles for me and my loved ones

Then we proceeded to the anointment of His body.

this Stone of Unction is believed to be where Jesus' body was laid and anointed...
this is always being poured with rose water

I also laid and rubbed my religious icons here.  The rose water is so fragrant that until now, the rosaries still smell roses.

it was believed that Jesus cross was erected from
where adam (the first man) was buried

Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

This is now in the Church of Sepulchre or Church of Resurrection.  At its heart is the aedicule that houses the tomb of Jesus. Before reaching this church, you will pass by a lot of alleys and pathways; which of course I'm not familiar with.  It is really easy to be lost here.

the signage is so small to be noticed...actually i didn't even have an idea that this is already the entrance

the heart of the Church of  Sepulchre with the aedicule housing the tomb

this is my favorite shot of the aedicule being naturally lit by  sunshine

the Pentokrator mosaic

This is the area, aside from the wailing wall, where there is a huge crowd.  It is really hard to make a way through the tomb so we opted to go to the part where His head lies.

this is the cross of the Jews...with 5 crossed in one

Just outside the aedicule, is the ancient cemetery.

the ancient tomb and altar

During the ancient times, the tomb is an open hole with many holes for each member of the family.  Imagine how old these tombs are.

the death of Christ

Aside from Jesus' tomb, also in this church is the omphalos or artifact marking the navel or center of the world.  

the omphalos

According to the ancient Greeks, Zeus sent out two eagles to fly across the world to meet at its center, the "navel" of the world.  Omphalos stones used to denote this point were erected in several areas surrounding the Mediterrenean Sea, this as being one of them.

After the Church of Sepulchre, we headed to the Wailing Wall.  I will have another post for this.