ENG -- Israel - pilgrimage through Jerusalem

Pilgrimage is probably the main reason why most people choose to visit Jerusalem. In this article you can read about our experience and how you can visit holy places on your own without having to pay organized tours. No entry fee is required for any of these places, but there are many travel agencies or local guides who request smaller or larger amounts just to guide the less informed people.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

You can start the walk from the top of the Olive Mountain. Despite its name, it is rather a hill, quite easy to climb. Those with difficulty traveling can take a simple taxi. For organized tours, the only transport offered is to climb that hill, considering that, on descending and following the route on Via Dolorosa, the trip is made by foot.

About the Olive Mountain is written in the New Testament as the place where Jesus Christ spent the last nights before His death, but also the place where He ascended to heaven at 40 days from the Resurrection. Currently, there are several Churches dedicated to Ascension on the mountain.

From the Olive Mountain you can have a panoramic view of the ancient fortress of Jerusalem, bordered by the Western Wall, which is also known as the Wailing Wall. The golden cupola in the picture is called Dom of the Rock and is one of the oldest and most important Islamic constructions in the world. The same view can be admired from inside the Dominus Flevit church, which can be the first stop when you begin to descend the mountain. In Latin, the name "Dominus Flevit" means "The Lord Wept" and the church was built in the form of a tear to remind of the tears of Jesus.

At the base of the Olive Mountains is the Garden of Gethsemane and, within it, the Church of All Nations. As it is written in the Bible, the Garden of Gethsemane is the place where Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers after he was betrayed by Judas.

At the exit of the Garden of Gethsemane, you can head to the fortress of Jerusalem and, after a short walk you can go by just a few minutes, you reach the nearest gate called the Lions' Gate.

Via Dolorosa (also known as The Way of the Cross) begins at the entrance to the old city of Jerusalem as soon as you pass through the Lions' Gate and has 14 stops (also called stations). The stops are marked with Roman numerals and have biblical meanings.

Along the route you are going to go through, you will find indications of the 14 stations on Via Dolorosa. First, after 1-2 minutes after you enter the Lions' Gate, on the left side of the road you will find a graphic legend on the wall.

The 14 stations and biblical events that took place in those places are : 

I) the judgment of Jesus by Pontius Pilate and His condemnation

II) the cross is placed on the shoulders of Jesus
On the right side of the road, over the place with the 14 charts, you will find the place where Pilate's court was in the past. There you can stop for the first 2 stations and to see a map of the route.

III) the place where Jesus falls for the first time because of the weight of the cross

IV) Jesus meets His mother
Some of the stations have only markings on the fortress walls, for others were built churches / chapels that can be visited or not according to their schedule.
Going down Via Dolorosa, when you turn left for the first time, you will see the Armenian Church, and on the surrounding wall are marked stations III and IV. To visit the chapel dedicated to the meeting between Jesus and His mother, you will have to enter the church yard and lower the stairs on the left. Here you can see the image of Jesus' first fall, next to a souvenir shop. By crossing the shop you will reach the chapel shown in the picture below.

V) Simon Crinean helps Jesus to carry the cross

VI) Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

VII) the place where Jesus falls for the second time

VIII) the meeting of Jesus with the faithful women who were crying for Him

IX) the place where Jesus falls for the third time

X) arriving at Golgotha (now inside the Holy Sepulcher Church) and stripping Jesus of His garments

XI) Jesus is nailed on the cross

XII) Jesus dies on the cross

XIII) Jesus is taken down from the cross

XIV) the tomb of Jesus (now inside a miniature church inside the Holy Sepulcher Church)

The last 5 stations of Via Dolorosa are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We recommend visiting the church in the morning or afternoon just before closing time because it is less crowded. Those who organize bus trips arrive here around lunch, so that's the time when you can hardly walk through the crowd.

Above the little church there was a hole in the ceiling about which it is said the Holy Light of the Resurrection would come during the Easter ceremony of  light up the candles.

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Other articles we have written about Israel : Israel - first impressions (it also contains details of how we arrived in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv using public transport), Israel - Dead Sea and about exploring Jerusalem as tourists.