The Way Of The Cross: Walking The Walk

If you choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus as he was led to his crucifixion in Jerusalem, you are in for a tightly-spaced, crowded, chaotic journey. You proceed along the Via Dolorosa -- a noisy, narrow street that's really more like an alleyway filled with shops and dotted with churches, chapels, shrines, tourist traps and markers depicting and/or numbering the Stations of the Cross. There are 14 stops in all along the Via Delorosa and much of the journey is uphill to the Church of the Holy Seplacure at Golgotha.
The closer you get to the actual place of Jesus' crucifixion, the more crowded and chaotic things become. Plus, the group underfoot is uneven and there are more than a few steps.
There is no real system to get you in or out of the Church, not much in the way of directional signs and you sort of have to make it up as you go along and find you own way. Our resourceful guide quickly arranged for us to run up the down staircase to catch a view of the crucifixion site.
You will see the altar that marks the crucifixion site, the slab where Jesus' body was said to have been prepared for burial (venerated by pilgrims who stroke, wipe, kiss and caress it) and the shrine that marks the tomb of Jesus, from which he arose.
It's very emotional.
But it's not for the short-winded or the faint of heart. Allow for the better part of the day and keep snacks and a bottle of water handy.

All photos copyright 2019 by Dan Cirucci.