Retracing Jesus’ Steps along Via Dolorosa
Meaning 'the way of suffering' in Latin, Via Dolorosa is the path Jesus took to Golgotha carrying the cross on which he died. Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, Via Dolorosa begins in the Muslim Quarter north of Temple Mount and ends at the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Golgotha in the Christian Quarter. The route has 14 stations, each corresponding to an event leading up to Jesus’ death. Nine of the 14 events have Bible references. Franciscans, who have functioned as custodians of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem since 1342, lead a procession along this route at 3pm every Friday.
Pilate ordered Jesus’ crucifixion
Jesus was also scourged and given his crown of thorns here — an act of mockery by the Roman soldiers.
Jesus accepted his cross
Between the Omariya Muslim College and the Franciscan Monastry, this is across the street from Station 1.
Jesus fell for
This station is located a short walk from the Ecce Homo Church at the intersection of Via Dolorosa and El Wad Street.
Jesus met his mother, Mary
Located very near Station 3, Station 4 is further south on El Wad Ha Gai Street and is where you’ll see an image of Jesus meeting his mother on the doorway of a small chapel.
Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry his cross
A small chapel dedicated to Simon was built in 1229 at the intersection of El Wad Ha Gai Street and Aqbat ETaqiya Street.
Veronica wiped the face of Jesus
Station 6 marks the home of Veronica. This event is not recorded in the gospels but tradition holds that his image remained on her cloth.
Jesus fell for the second time
Jesus stumbled over a threshold as he passed through the Judgment Gate, so named as it was believed that a copy of Jesus’ sentence was posted there.
Jesus spoke to the women of Jerusalem
Here you see a Latin cross and the letters “NIKA” — which means “Jesus Christ conquers” — are carved into the wall of the Greek Orthodox Convent of
St. Charalambos.
Jesus fell for a third time
This station is right beside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and is marked by the drawing of a cross on a wall of the Coptic Patriarchate.
Jesus was stripped of his garments
The first of a series of events that happened in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, this took place in a small Franciscan chapel accessible by steps on the right of the church’s basilica.
Jesus was nailed to the cross
Within the Latin chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the 11th station houses modern mosaics that illustrate Jesus being nailed to the cross.
Jesus died on the cross
In the Greek Orthodox chapel within the compound, some pilgrims kneel and kiss a silver disk under the altar believed to mark the spot where Jesus’ cross stood.
Jesus was taken down from the cross following his death
Marked by an altar in an archway, here lies the Stone of Unction, where Jesus’ body was laid and prepared for burial.
Jesus was laid in the tomb
In the rotunda of the basilica, Mary Magdalene first found Jesus’ tomb empty except for his grave clothes. It is also here Jesus was resurrected and appeared to her first.