The Garden Tomb Because the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located within the walls of the

Old City of Jerusalem, 19th century scholars disputed this as the actual site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. They did not realize that the city walls had been expanded in the years after the crucifixion.

In 1883, General Charles George Gordon, a distinguished British officer, was looking through the window of his hotel room near the Damascus Gate and became convinced that this hill was the place of Jesus crucifixion. A recently discovered tomb nearby was heralded as the tomb that Joseph of Arimathea provided for Jesus’ burial. The Church of England supported Gordon’s proposal (the support was later withdrawn). It should be noted that the site was proposed as the true Calvary thirty years prior to Gordon’s “discovery.”

Today, there is little or no support for the proposition that this is the true Calvary. Never-the-less, this tranquil spot in the bustling city of Jerusalem is marvelous place to meditate upon the sacrifice of Christ.

Via Dolorosa The Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday afternoon at 3pm (the time Jesus died) Franciscan friars lead hundreds of Christians in a procession through the Old City of Jerusalem, stopping at 14 Stations of the Cross representing significant experiences of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. These pilgrims are accompanied by Muslim escorts, in Ottoman uniforms of red fez, gold-embroidered waistcoat and baggy blue trousers The Via Dolorosa (or the Way of Sorrows) is a spiritual journey with Jesus to the cross. While the actual route Jesus followed on his way to Calvary is uncertain, for centuries faithful Christians have traveled along this traditional path. From its starting point, just inside St Stephen’s Gate. pilgrims wind their way westward to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the last five Stations are located.

Station I 

Jesus is tried and condemned by Pontius Pilate. 

(Matthew 27:11‐24; Mark 15:1‐15; Luke 23:1‐25; John 18:28‐19:16) 

 

The First Station is at the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount, inside the Islamic Al-Omariyah School. It is across the street from the Chapel of the Flagellation. This is where the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, the Antonia Fortress would have stood in the time of Jesus.

Steps leading up to the entrance of the Al-Omariyah School

Station VI 

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus The Chapel of St. Veronica marks the Sixth Station on the Via Dolorosa.

According to Christian tradition, a woman named Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with her veil. The image of Jesus’ face was imprinted on the cloth. Today, the veil of Veronica is among the treasures kept in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The name, Veronica, is derived from the words vera and icon, meaning true image. Some ancient traditions identify Veronica as the woman Jesus healed of a hemorrhage. She is also said to have married Zacchaeus, the tax collector of Jericho.

The Edicule

Station II 

Jesus is scourged and given the cross. 

(Matthew 27:26‐31; Mark 15:15‐20; John 19:1‐3) 

The Second Station is across the street from the Al-Omariyah School in a Franciscan compound containing the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Chapel of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross.

The Chapel of the Flagellation has beautiful stained-glass windows behind the altar and on either side of the sanctuary showing Pilate washing his hands; Jesus being scourged; and Barabbas expressing joy at his release.

The Franciscan order was established by Saint Francis in the late 12th century. The Franciscans have been in the Holy Land since the early 13th century, when they resided in a small house along the Via Dolorosa. In 1342 Pope Clement VI made the Franciscans the official custodians of the Holy places. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Franciscans still have this status.

Windows inside the Chapel of the Flagellation

Station III 

Jesus falls for the first time. 

(Although not mentioned in the Gospels, according to Christian tradition, Jesus fell three times on the way to Calvary) 

The Third Station is at the intersection of the Via Dolorosa with Al-Wad Road. The Armenian Catholic Patriarch built a small chapel built there during the 15th century. It was renovated with the financial assistance of the Polish army in 1947-48. There is a marble relief above the door showing Jesus falling as he carries the cross.

Station XIV 

Jesus is buried. The Rotunda, or Anastasis, is the round area in the center of the church. It

has a few original columns of Constantine’s 4th-century church. The dome of the Rotunda features a twelve-pointed star symbolizing the twelve apostles.

In the center of the Rotunda is the Tomb of Christ. The large, boxy shrine around it is the edicule. The current structure (supported by scaffolding for protection against earthquakes) was built after the fire of 1808. It replaced one dating from 1555, which replaced the original 4th century shrine that the sultan Hakim destroyed in 1009.

There are two small chapels inside the edicule. The first is the Chapel of the Angel. It has an altar containing a piece of the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then you enter the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christendom. This is the 14th Station of the Cross, the tomb of Christ. A marble slab, purposely cracked to deter looters, covers the place where the body of Christ was laid. A vase with candles sits where his head rested.

Station XIII 

Jesus is taken down from the cross. The Thirteenth Station is between Stations XI and XII at the Altar of Stabat

Mater.

Station IV 

Mary embraces Jesus. 

(According to Christian tradition, Jesus meet and was embraced by his mother as he made his way to Calvary) 

The Fourth Station is at the Armenian Church, Our Lady of the Spasm. In the church courtyard there is a mosaic of sandals which marks the place Mary was said to be standing when she embraced Jesus as he carried the cross through Jerusalem.

Station V 

Simon of Cyrene picks up the cross 

(Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26) 

The Fifth Station is marked by a small Franciscan chapel commemorating Simon of Cyrene (located in modern Libya), who was forced to help Jesus carry his cross. This site was the first holy placed established by the Franciscans in Jerusalem. A stone embedded in the outside wall of the chapel is said to hold the handprint of Jesus.

Station XII 

Jesus dies on the cross. The Greek Orthodox Rock of Calvary chapel marks the Twelfth Station. The

Rock of Golgotha can be seen under glass on either side of the main altar. There is a hole beneath the altar where you can touch the rock.

Station XI 

Jesus is nailed to the cross. The Eleventh Station is located inside a Franciscan Chapel featuring a 12th-

century mosaic of Jesus being nailed to the cross and a Medici altar from Florence.

Station VI 

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus The Chapel of St. Veronica marks the Sixth Station on the Via Dolorosa.

According to Christian tradition, a woman named Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with her veil. The image of Jesus’ face was imprinted on the cloth. Today, the veil of Veronica is among the treasures kept in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The name, Veronica, is derived from the words vera and icon, meaning true image. Some ancient traditions identify Veronica as the woman Jesus healed of a hemorrhage. She is also said to have married Zacchaeus, the tax collector of Jericho.

Station VII 

Jesus falls for the second time Nearing the Judgment Gate in the city wall, Jesus fell a second time. There

is an ancient Roman column located inside the Franciscan chapel marking the second fall.

Station X 

Jesus is stripped of his garments. The Tenth Station is located at the entrance to the Franciscan Chapel.

Station VIII 

Jesus consoles the Daughters of Jerusalem 

(Luke 23:27‐31) 

The Eighth Station is marked by a small cross carved on the outer wall of a Greek Orthodox monastery.

Station IX 

Jesus falls for the third time. Nearing Calvary, Jesus falls a third time. This Station is marked by a Roman

pillar at the entrance to the Coptic Patriarchate next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Stations X – XIV 

The last five Stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher 

(Matthew 27:35‐61; Mark 15:22‐47; Luke 23:32‐56; John 19:16‐42) 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has always been one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. It is both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Jesus.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is shared by Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Christians. The 1852 Status Quo of the Holy Places decree strictly defines rules and privileges for these Christians. Still, there are frequent arguments and less frequent fist fights between the monks over matters as trivial as whether a door should be opened or closed, or the placement of a chair.