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The Via Dolorosa is the route that Christians believe follows the final footsteps of Jesus on the way to his crucifixion. It’s located in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old City of Jerusalem
This entry only covers the Stations of the Cross. All other sites along the route not associated with the Stations of the Cross are covered in their own separate entries.
The Route
The Via Dolorosa starts on Lions’ Gate Street in the Muslim Quarter and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter. It runs for about 600 meters (2,000 feet). It’s marked by nine Stations of the Cross, with the final five stations inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The current route was established in the 18th century.
Both of my experiences with the Via Dolorosa were rushed because our guide, Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, said we had too many things to see that day. In fact, he took us down the path in reverse. On my next trip, I plan take my time and walk the path properly, spending time at each site I haven’t been able to visit. That being said, this entry is incomplete.
1st Station
The 1st Station is located at the Umariya Elementary School, which stood on the site of the Antonia Fortress. Many biblical scholars believe Pontius Pilate carried out his judgement to condemn Jesus to death at the fortress.
When school is out, the shopkeeper at the steps will invite pilgrims to visit the school. From a balcony at the back of the school, there are incredible views of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, with the al-Aqsa Mosque in the background.
2nd Station
The 2nd Station is located at the Franciscan Monastery of the Flagellation, which is covered in a separate entry. The monastery encloses part of the Lithostrotos, or Gabbatha. It’s the location where Jesus was flogged and forced to carry the cross.
3rd Station
The 3rd Station is around the next corner to the left. It represents Jesus falling for the first time. The 3rd Station is marked on the entrance to the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman.
4th Station
Next door is the 4th Station, which represents Jesus’ encounter with the Virgin Mary, is at the the Armenian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. It’s the seat of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate and was built in 1881.
5th Station
Turning right at the next corner is the 5th Station, which represents Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry the cross. It’s marked on the small Chapel of Simon of Cyrene, which was built in 1895 by the Franciscans.
On the wall of the chapel is a handprint medieval Christians believed to be the handprint of Christ. Tradition says Jesus stumbled near this spot and used his hand to break his fall. The impression has been made deeper and smoother by the hands of pilgrims touching it over the centuries. It used to be on the ground but was moved to the wall for safety purposes.
At this point, the Via Dolorosa becomes more narrow and starts gradually climbing uphill towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Shops and restaurants line both sides of the street. There’s also more shade.
6th Station
The 6th Station is located at the Church of the Holy Face and St. Veronica, which was built by the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in 1883. It represents the encounter with St. Veronica, who used her veil to wipe the sweat from the face of Jesus.
The church sits atop the remains of the 12th century Crusader Monastery of St. Cosmas and is generally open Tuesday through Saturday. The site was identified as the 6th Station in the 19th century.
7th Station
At the next junction, where a section of the Roman Cardo (north-south road) meets the Decumanus (east-west road) is the 7th Station. It represents Jesus falling for the second time. The station is marked at the entrance to a small Franciscan chapel built in 1875.
8th Station
The Via Dolorosa turns west into the Christian Quarter at the next right from the Cardo. A few steps further along is the 8th Station, which is the location where Jesus meets the Pious Women. The 8th Station sits outside the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Charalambos.
9th Station
The 9th Station is at the gates to the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, which is not on the Via Dolorosa. It’s actually on the rooftop of the Chapel of St. Helena, which is a subterranean structure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The 9th Station marks Jesus falling for the third time.
10th through 14th Stations
As previously mentioned, the 10th through 14th Stations are at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The 10th Station, which is where Christ was stripped of his clothes, is in the Catholic Chapel of the Franks on the courtyard of the church. The 11th, 12th, and 13th Stations, where Christ was nailed to the cross, died, and taken down from the cross, are in the Catholic and Greek Orthodox chapels at Golgotha. The 14th Station, where Christ was placed in the tomb, is at the Edicule in the Rotunda.
