Day 11
The Walk
This morning  we walked into the Old City  of Jerusalem  through the lion's  gate also known as St. Stephen's  Gate, the place where Stephen  was martyred.  On the way Kaliel  showed us the spot where the Crusaders  breached the city wall so long ago.  We then headed to St. Ann's Church, the site where Mary was born.  This church has amazing acoustics!  We sang  2 verses of Beautiful Savior making one of our group sad as this was both her wedding  hyen and one hymn sung at her husband's funeral.  This church is the only one not built on the site of a previous church  or pagan site in all of Jerusalem.  Why?  The other St. Ann's church was next door and the floor was under water so the Crusaders wisely  built  off site a bit.

We continued our walk to the church of the Flagellation, the place that Jesus was first whipped by Pilate's  guards after Pontius Pilate condemned  Jesus  to death.

Via Dolorosa
We walked today where Jesus  may have walked  as he went from Pilate to Golgotha.  Jears was condemned  byou Pilate at Station 1.  It is a school today.

Station 2.  In this  chapel Jesus takes up the cross and begins his death  march.  Most of  us  understand  that Jesus carried the whole cross, buto that would have been impossible!  He carried the cross-beam on his shoulders and then he was presented  to  the  people  with the words,  "Behold  the man."

At the 3rd  station, Jesus falls for the first time. Beautifulart in this station.

Station 4.  The small Armenian Catholic  church  is here and there is a relief  above  the door commemorating  the time Jesus met his mother.

At the 5th  station, Simon of  Sirene is chosen to help Jesus carry his cross.  Here, outside the door, there is a stone  where Jesus  placed his hand for support.

6th station.  Here, St. Veronica  wipes Jesus' face, and the impression is supposedly  someplace,

At the 7th station Jesus  falls for a second time.

Station  8.  Jesus, as he passes women crying  for  him, tells them not to  be  weeping  for him, but for them and their children.

At Station 9 Jesus falls for a third time.  There is a column builTinton the door of a Copic church  to commemorate  this spot.

Just outside of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulcher, is the spot where Jesus is strpiped of his garments and thesoldiers cast lots for  them.

We took a break here and went to Redeemer  Lutheran  to meet with Bishop Yunan.  He spoke for nearly 45 minutes about the Palestinian situation  and possible solution.  Such an amazing  man!  I'm so glad this happened!

Lunch  was in the market at a place  that served traditional  Middle East fare.  I ate a patty that was ground beef and lamb mixed with spices and wrapped in grape  leaves and baked.  Yummy!

Back  to the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulcher for the  remaining  stations...

Station  11, Jesus is nailed to the cross. Not dun, and I don't think  I  have  to  say more,

At sration 12, Jesus  is  crucified and dies.  This is Golgotha, the place of the skull.  Not only  did  the  stone  look a lot  like a skull, but skulls were buried unDer Jeses' cross.

Station 13.  Jesus  is  taken  from  the  cross  and  laid in Mary's lap.  Can this really be, did this just happen?

At this station, Jesus is by used in a Tomb.

There are 6 ancient churches in charge at the Church  of  the  gongoing on here: Roman Catholic, a Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic,Etheopian, and Syrian  who are responsible  for  the maintenance  and upkeep.

Then off to do some shopping!

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