The Via Dolorosa
Jesus’ path from the place where he was sentenced to the location of the crucifixion is called in the Christion tradition “The Way of Grief”. Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Passover eve with his students. After dining with them, Jesus and his students went to “Gathsemane”, where he was seized and handed over to the Romans. After that, Jesus was judged by the Roman governor Pontius Pilatus, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion.
This event occurred at the end of the Second Temple era, but the tradition that identifies this location as the Via Dolorosa evolved later, during the 13th century. This trail includes 14 stations that commemorate events depicted in the new testament and in later traditions. The last 5 stations in Via Dolorosa are located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The trail starts where the trial took place, where Jesus walked carrying the cross on his back, and continues to the site of the crucifixion- the Golgotha Hill, which is believed by most churches to be inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
On Fridays at noon, a procession of Franciscan monks starts from the first station of the Via Dolorosa, followed by many believers along the path up to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 1659 traveler reviews
Eliminate the smartphones and this could be as it was in the time of Jesus. We were here on a pilgrimage, but my focus in the review is on photography. It is challenging. It will be crowded and the footing is slick and uneven, so be mindful of where you are. It is street...
MoreEliminate the smartphones and this could be as it was in the time of Jesus. We were here on a pilgrimage, but my focus in the review is on photography. It is challenging. It will be crowded and the footing is slick and uneven, so be mindful of where you are. It is street photography, although if on a tour you will stop a few times and the guide will chat. Travel light, a DSRL with a zoom lens or even a pocket camera will suffice. Plan ahead by setting exposure, speed, ISO, etc. Expect post-processing and tossing many shots.
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The Via Dolorosa - The Way of the Cross is a winding path through the ancient Old City of Jerusalem tracing the route that Our Lord carried His Cross on His way to be crucified on Calvary. This is a awe-inspiring and inspirational journey that any Pilgrim to the Holy Land must take. 2,000...
MoreThe Via Dolorosa - The Way of the Cross is a winding path through the ancient Old City of Jerusalem tracing the route that Our Lord carried His Cross on His way to be crucified on Calvary. This is a awe-inspiring and inspirational journey that any Pilgrim to the Holy Land must take. 2,000 years of development along the Via Dolorosa has camoflaged and, in some places, obliterated the original route. In fact, the final three of the fourteen Stations are now all located in one place: outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (rather than in the original locations which are inside or underneath the Church itself). It is best to go in the very early morning, before the shops and stalls of the Old City fully come to life in order to experience the Via Dolorosa in its best light and with a minimum of current, modern distraction. Because of the cobblestone paving along the whole way, and the many sloping areas and steps in places, The Way of Th Cross is not very ADA compliant and wakers and/or wheelchairs will have difficulty managing its length.
LessThis is it - the culmination of our Holy Land pilgrimage across 4 countries and territories (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine). It's a must-do for Catholics here. Everyone in our group had the opportunity to carry the Cross and read the Stations of the Cross in a narrow marketplace similar to the 1st Good Friday...
MoreThis is it - the culmination of our Holy Land pilgrimage across 4 countries and territories (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine). It's a must-do for Catholics here. Everyone in our group had the opportunity to carry the Cross and read the Stations of the Cross in a narrow marketplace similar to the 1st Good Friday scenes. It's approximately 600 meter route believed to follow the path of Jesus.
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