The Via Dolorosa, Latin for “Sorrowful Way” or “Way of Suffering” is the processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem. It represents the path that Jesus would have taken, forced by the Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route is from the former Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a distance of some 2,000 feet. The Via Dolorosa is not one street, but a route consisting of segments of several streets.

The Via Dolorosa is a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage. The route has evidently changed somewhat over the years. The current route was established in the 18th century. The number of stations of the cross evidently varies, depending on the particular church and tradition. Today, it’s marked here by fourteen Stations of the Cross. Nine stations are outside in the various streets along the route. The five remaining stations are located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

We exited the Western Wall tunnel into the Muslim Quarters and crossed the road to the Church of Flagellation, photo below, and the Chapel of the Condemnation. This is the site of the 2nd Station of the Cross where Jesus is made to bear the cross. This was determined by Biblical descriptions and the discovery of Roman flagstones beneath the adjacent churches. There is probably some controversy about this, but this was our start on the Via Dolorosa.

Below is the Via Dolorosa leaving station two and moving towards station three.

I included the next photo to give a higher view of the neighborhood of the Via Dolorosa. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in the upper left (blue-grey domes) and you can notice that it’s uphill to get there.

The next photo is Station Three, where Jesus falls for the first time. You can see this both over the doorway and in the metal markers on the corner of the building.

Below is the 5th station, where Jesus fell against the wall and Simon of Cyrene was ordered to help Jesus carry the cross. The hand position is well worn.

This is the 6th Station of the Cross where a woman named Veronica wipes Jesus’ face. (station marked in upper left) You can also notice that the street rises steeply.

I must say that the street below was not a view that I expected to see while walking the Stations of the Cross, but it is on the route. It’s a busy market area.

The next photo shows a priest walking carrying a cross. He had over 100 people walking behind him and they just ploughed their way through the street. It was so chaotic that I didn’t even get a photo. I understand that this is a common occurrence.

The photo below shows multiple things. First, this is the ninth Station of the Cross, where Jesus falls for the third time. You can see the cross that was left here from the earlier reenactment. The station marker is above and to the right of the cross. You can also see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the background.

The last photo is the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the site of the last five Stations of the Cross.