04/14/2025
As we listened to on it was not hard to remember my personal pilgrimage to Israel where I experienced the stations of the cross - the actual places where on his last day on this earth Jesus Christ paused, stumbled, or encountered significant events. The 14 stations are the various points along his path. Below are a few of my pictures from Israel and listing of the stations. My trip and experience was a blessing I am profoundly humbled and blessed to experience.
1. Jesus Condemned to Death: This station is believed to be at the site of the former Antonia Fortress, now a Muslim school.
2. Jesus Takes Up His Cross: Located near the Franciscans Monastery of the Flagellation, this station marks where Jesus was handed his cross.
3. Jesus Falls the First Time: This station is marked by a small chapel or shrine along the Via Dolorosa.
4. Jesus Meets His Mother: This station is located near the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm, where it's believed Mary watched her son pass by carrying the cross.
5. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross: This station is marked by a plaque or marker along the Via Dolorosa.
6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus: Located west of Al Wad St, this station is marked by a brown wooden door and a carving on the wall.
7. Jesus Falls the Second Time: This station is also marked by a plaque or marker along the Via Dolorosa.
8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem: This station is marked by a cross and the Greek inscription "NIKA" on the wall of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Mary.
9. Jesus Falls the Third Time: This station is near the Coptic Patriarchate next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
10. Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments: This station is inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in a Franciscans chapel to the right of the Sepulchre entrance.
11. Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross: This station is located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in a room called the Chapel of the Franks.
12. Jesus Dies on the Cross: This station is at the altar built over the Rock of Calvary within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
13. Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross: This station is located next to the altar where Jesus died.
14. Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb: This station is located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been buried.