Via Dolorosa

In the Bible

Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Carrying His cross, He went out toward Golgotha; Simon of Cyrene was made to carry it behind Him, and women followed, mourning.

John 19:16–17Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away. Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

Luke 23:26–28As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Tradition

The route took shape over centuries; Franciscan custom fixed its fourteen stations. Where it starts is debated: it assumes Pilate judged Jesus at the Antonia fortress; another view puts him at Herod's palace by the Jaffa Gate.

Here today

Narrow streets of the Old City, mostly markets, with the stations marked on the walls; the last five are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).