The Garden Tomb  Via Dolorosa
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(the support was later withdrawn).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.
 
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  Station VI 
Jesus is tried and condemned by Pontius Pilate.  Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 
(Matthew 27:11‐24; Mark 15:1‐15; Luke 23:1‐25; John 18:28‐19:16)  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
The First Station is at the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount, inside of Veronica is among the treasures kept in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
the Islamic Al-Omariyah School. It is across the street from the Chapel of the The name, Veronica, is derived from the words vera and icon, meaning true image.
Flagellation. This is where the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, the Antonia Fortress Some ancient traditions identify Veronica as the woman Jesus healed of a
would have stood in the time of Jesus. hemorrhage. She is also said to have married Zacchaeus, the tax collector of
Jericho.

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

 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.

The Edicule
Windows inside the Chapel of the Flagellation
 Station III  Station XIV 
Jesus falls for the first time.  Jesus is buried. 
(Although not mentioned in the Gospels, according to Christian tradition,  The Rotunda, or Anastasis, is the round area in the center of the church. It
Jesus fell three times on the way to Calvary)  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.
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 In the center of the Rotunda is the Tomb of Christ. The large, boxy shrine
15th century. It was renovated with the financial assistance of the Polish army in around it is the edicule. The current structure (supported by scaffolding for
1947-48. There is a marble relief above the door showing Jesus falling as he carries protection against earthquakes) was built after the fire of 1808. It replaced one
the cross. 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  Station IV 
Jesus is taken down from the cross.  Mary embraces Jesus. 
The Thirteenth Station is between Stations XI and XII at the Altar of Stabat (According to Christian tradition, Jesus meet and was embraced by his 
Mater. 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  Station XII 
Simon of Cyrene picks up the cross  Jesus dies on the cross. 
(Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)  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
The Fifth Station is marked by a small Franciscan chapel commemorating
a hole beneath the altar where you can touch the rock.
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 XI  Station VI 
Jesus is nailed to the cross.  Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 
The Eleventh Station is located inside a Franciscan Chapel featuring a 12th- The Chapel of St. Veronica marks the Sixth Station on the Via Dolorosa.
century mosaic of Jesus being nailed to the cross and a Medici altar from Florence. 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  Station X 
Jesus falls for the second time  Jesus is stripped of his garments. 
Nearing the Judgment Gate in the city wall, Jesus fell a second time. There The Tenth Station is located at the entrance to the Franciscan Chapel.
is an ancient Roman column located inside the Franciscan chapel marking the
second fall.
 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  Stations X – XIV 
Jesus falls for the third time.  The last five Stations are inside the Church of the Holy 
Nearing Calvary, Jesus falls a third time. This Station is marked by a Roman Sepulcher 
pillar at the entrance to the Coptic Patriarchate next to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre (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.