I came across this beautiful collection of photographs on The Big Picture on the The Boston Globe.
When I was in Jerusalem, on my very first day there, Sara and I decided to join a Franciscan procession along the Via Dolorosa (the Path of Sorrow or the Way of the Cross). The Via Dolorosa is the route tradition says prophet Jesus followed, from his condemnation by the Romans to the spot where he was buried after the crucifixion.
At 4 pm everyday, hundreds of people gather near the Lions Gate in the Muslim quarter of the Old city of Jerusalem. After saying a few prayers, led by the priests and nuns, the procession begins. The procession ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the point where Christ is said to have been crucified and buried. Along the way, the procession stops at 14 stations, each signifying a particular event in Christ's final journey. The first of these 14 stations is where Christ was condemned and a crown of thorns was put on his head. Then come station when Christ stumbled and fell, and where he and Mother Mary met for the last time. The last five stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. At every station, everyone around me prayed and sang songs about Christ's greatness and his pain when we walked this path, towards his Crucifixion. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.
After looking at some of the photographs of the Holy Week in the Boston Globe collection, I really wish I could go back to Jerusalem and stay there for months. Though the few days I spent there were among the most brilliant of my life so far, but I can imagine how lovely and lively Jerusalem would be on days of great importance to either of the three Abrahamic Religions.
When I was in Jerusalem, on my very first day there, Sara and I decided to join a Franciscan procession along the Via Dolorosa (the Path of Sorrow or the Way of the Cross). The Via Dolorosa is the route tradition says prophet Jesus followed, from his condemnation by the Romans to the spot where he was buried after the crucifixion.
At 4 pm everyday, hundreds of people gather near the Lions Gate in the Muslim quarter of the Old city of Jerusalem. After saying a few prayers, led by the priests and nuns, the procession begins. The procession ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at the point where Christ is said to have been crucified and buried. Along the way, the procession stops at 14 stations, each signifying a particular event in Christ's final journey. The first of these 14 stations is where Christ was condemned and a crown of thorns was put on his head. Then come station when Christ stumbled and fell, and where he and Mother Mary met for the last time. The last five stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. At every station, everyone around me prayed and sang songs about Christ's greatness and his pain when we walked this path, towards his Crucifixion. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.
After looking at some of the photographs of the Holy Week in the Boston Globe collection, I really wish I could go back to Jerusalem and stay there for months. Though the few days I spent there were among the most brilliant of my life so far, but I can imagine how lovely and lively Jerusalem would be on days of great importance to either of the three Abrahamic Religions.
A few of my photographs from that day, almost 2 years ago.
A man looks on as the procession passes by in the Muslim Quarter
Near the beginning
A part of the path
A church marking the place where Jesus and Veronica met. The sixth station.
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