Stations of the Cross (Jerusalem, Israel 05/27/2017)
We left Bethlehem for a 2-1/2 hour walk through Jerusalem, following the path of the crucifixion backwards from the end to the beginning. It was quite an emotional journey.
We entered the Old City of Jerusalem through the Jaffa Gate, one of seven entrances and the main gate to the Old City. On the day of the crucifixion, Jesus travelled up an extremely steep hill to his destination at Calgary. Entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains five of the 14 Stations of the Cross (locations focused on specific events that occurred on Jesus’ last day as he made his way from Prison to Calgary) we made a hard right turn and began the climb up a nearly vertical winding staircase. It is impossible to understand the physical stress Jesus would have been under as he walked these same steps, carrying the weight of the cross as he climbed.
We visited each of the five Stations of the Cross located within the church and learned that the church is run by five different denominations. Each denomination has a specific area of the church they are responsible for maintaining. There are two huge wooden doors leading into the church, doors that have an equally large key. It is 12” long and weighs eight ounces. When Muslim Arabs took over Jerusalem in the 1187, they confiscated the key from the church and gave it to one of the tribe’s most prominent clans. To this day the key remains in the hands of that same family. Another prominent family of the time was given the duty of opening and closing the church, a tradition that also remains intact. A member of the family comes every morning to open the church, waits on a bench by the door until it is time to close the church, locks the doors and goes home, then repeats the process the next day. In both families the responsibility is handed down from father to eldest son. It is ironic that access to a protestant church would be controlled by Muslims, especially in this region of the world. The church is an amazing model of peaceful co-existence.
Leaving the church we continued follow the Stations of the Cross, passing each of the three places where he fell while carrying the cross up the hill, the place where Veronica wiped his face, where Simon tried to help him carry the cross…Easter Sunday may never be the same again.
Approaching the Old City of Jerusalem 
The Old City is contained within these walls 
Preparing to enter the Old City through the Jaffa Gate 
It is tradition for Jewish homes to post a blessing in their entry way; this is the blessing at the Jaffa gate 
Inside the City 
The Old City is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian 
Within the Christian Quarter 
Outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher 
Walking up what would have been the hill to Calgary 
Through this grated screen you can see the table where Jesus’ clothes would have been removed 
There were many visitors in the church 
The station where Jesus was nailed to the cross.
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Stations of the Cross (Jerusalem, Israel 05/27/2017)
We left Bethlehem for a 2-1/2 hour walk through Jerusalem, following the path of the crucifixion backwards from the end to the beginning. It was quite an emotional journey.
We entered the Old City of Jerusalem through the Jaffa Gate, one of seven entrances and the main gate to the Old City. On the day of the crucifixion, Jesus travelled up an extremely steep hill to his destination at Calgary. Entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains five of the 14 Stations of the Cross (locations focused on specific events that occurred on Jesus’ last day as he made his way from Prison to Calgary) we made a hard right turn and began the climb up a nearly vertical winding staircase. It is impossible to understand the physical stress Jesus would have been under as he walked these same steps, carrying the weight of the cross as he climbed.
We visited each of the five Stations of the Cross located within the church and learned that the church is run by five different denominations. Each denomination has a specific area of the church they are responsible for maintaining. There are two huge wooden doors leading into the church, doors that have an equally large key. It is 12” long and weighs eight ounces. When Muslim Arabs took over Jerusalem in the 1187, they confiscated the key from the church and gave it to one of the tribe’s most prominent clans. To this day the key remains in the hands of that same family. Another prominent family of the time was given the duty of opening and closing the church, a tradition that also remains intact. A member of the family comes every morning to open the church, waits on a bench by the door until it is time to close the church, locks the doors and goes home, then repeats the process the next day. In both families the responsibility is handed down from father to eldest son. It is ironic that access to a protestant church would be controlled by Muslims, especially in this region of the world. The church is an amazing model of peaceful co-existence.
Leaving the church we continued follow the Stations of the Cross, passing each of the three places where he fell while carrying the cross up the hill, the place where Veronica wiped his face, where Simon tried to help him carry the cross…Easter Sunday may never be the same again.
There is a tremendous amount of decoration 
Calgary 
You can reach in and touch the stone where the cross was secured 
Jesus is removed from the cross… 
…and prepared for buriel. 
The stone where Jesus’ body was laid to be prepared for buriel 
Jesus’ tomb 
The monument built to honor Jesus’ tomb
JodockWorldTravel 