Follow the 14 Stations of the Cross
If you are looking for a biblical experience, you may want to visit the old city in Jerusalem and walk the Fourteen Stations of the Cross also called the Via Dolorosa or the Path of the Suffering. While I didn't walked the full route myself when I was there, I did stop by at a few of the stations. However, I did find an awesome blog by fellow world traveler Matt Long who says in his blog:
The best time to walk the ancient path is early in the morning, before the crowds converge on the Old City. When I walked it I was practically alone, but when I returned later large tour groups made the walk almost impossible to navigate. Plus there is a certain solemnity when alone, right after first light as you walk towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For those looking for a more organized experience, free tours are available Fridays at 3:00 PM led by priests, starting at the Monastery of the Flagellation near the entrance to the Lion’s Gate. This guide though should help anyone navigate the twisty route following the Stations of the Cross. To learn more and see some great pictures of each station, CLICK HERE to visit Mike's blog
The best time to walk the ancient path is early in the morning, before the crowds converge on the Old City. When I walked it I was practically alone, but when I returned later large tour groups made the walk almost impossible to navigate. Plus there is a certain solemnity when alone, right after first light as you walk towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For those looking for a more organized experience, free tours are available Fridays at 3:00 PM led by priests, starting at the Monastery of the Flagellation near the entrance to the Lion’s Gate. This guide though should help anyone navigate the twisty route following the Stations of the Cross. To learn more and see some great pictures of each station, CLICK HERE to visit Mike's blog
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The 14 Stations of the Cross1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus is given his cross 3. Jesus falls the first time 4. Jesus meets His Mother 5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 7. Jesus falls the second time 8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem 9. Jesus falls the third time 10. Jesus is stripped of his garments 11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross 12. Jesus dies on the cross 13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Deposition or Lamentation) 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense. |
The True Cross
Wikipedia - According to post-Nicene historians such as Socrates Scholasticus, the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, travelled to the Holy Land in 326-28, founding churches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. Historians Gelasius of Caesarea and Rufinus claimed that she discovered the hiding place of three crosses that were believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and of two thieves, St. Dismas and Gestas, executed with him, and that a miracle revealed which of the three was the True Cross. Many churches possess fragmentary remains that are by tradition alleged to be those of the True Cross. Their authenticity is not accepted universally by those of the Christian faith and the accuracy of the reports surrounding the discovery of the True Cross is questioned by some Christians.The acceptance and belief of that part of the tradition that pertains to the Early Christian Church is generally restricted to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The medieval legends that developed concerning its provenance differ between Catholic and Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the Anglican Communion.
The Golden Legend
In the Latin-speaking traditions of Western Europe, the story of the pre-Christian origins of the True Cross was well established by the 13th century when, in 1260, it was recorded, by Jacopo de Voragine, Bishop of Genoa, in the Golden Legend. The Golden Legend contains several versions of the origin of the True Cross. In The Life of Adam, Voragine writes that the true cross came from three trees which grew from three seeds from the "Tree of Mercy" which Seth collected and planted in the mouth of Adam's corpse. In another account contained in Of the invention of the Holy Cross, and first of this word invention, Voragine writes that the True Cross came from a tree that grew from part of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or "the tree that Adam ate of", that Seth planted on Adam's grave where it "endured there unto the time of Solomon". After many centuries the tree was cut down and the wood used to build a bridge over which the Queen of Sheba passed, on her journey to meet King Solomon. So struck was she by the portent contained in the timber of the bridge that she fell on her knees and reverenced it. On her visit to Solomon she told him that a piece of wood from the bridge would bring about the replacement of God's Covenant with the Jewish people, by a new order. Solomon, fearing the eventual destruction of his people, had the timber buried. But after fourteen generations, the wood taken from the bridge was fashioned into the Cross used to crucify Christ. Voragine then goes on to describe its finding by Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine. |
For tips on visiting Israel CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
WHERE I STAYED...
A Little House in Bakah 1YehudaSt., Jerusalem 93627 Tel: 972-2-6737944 Email: [email protected] www.jerusalem-hotel.co.il Check them out on Trip Adviser |
HOW TO GET THERE
There is no airport in Jerusalem so you must fly into Tel Aviv then take a cab, rent a car or take a bus to Jerusalem. |