Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem

There are many pilgrims who you will see o the way to Jerusalem. One of the most important things here is when you take a walk in the Via Dolorosa. This is the same route that was taken by Jesus when he was condemned by Pilate until he was crucified and buried. This is a pilgrimage that has been followed by Christians of many different denominations. There are many Catholics and orthodox Christians.

There is a pilgrimage that follows right from the times of early Christianity.  This had started and this religion was legalized by Constantine. The Byzantine pilgrims followed a path that is similar to a path that has been taken today.  And if this happens then this cannot stop along the way.  This route has also been changed many times.

During the eight century, the pathways now have changed though. When you first begin at the beautiful Gethsemane garden, you will see the many pilgrims that headed into the south all the way to the Zion Mountain.  This is then double backed around the mountain temple right up to the holy sepulcher.

During the rule of the Latin Church, the ships were headed for the west. These re the churches from the east also went eastward.

When you check what happened in the fourteenth century all the way till the sixteenth century, there were many pilgrims who followed this route and this is how the church of the Holy sepulcher started. It did not even include the eight stations that it was out to include in the first place.  There were many Anglicans who believed that Jesus would have been led toward the north into the garden tomb. And there are other Catholics who belong to the Dominican order who believe that their place was the King Herod’s palace near the gate of Jaffa.

There are lots of pilgrims who know the exact location to all the events here.  And these happened along the Via Dolorosa. This is not of much importance anyways. There is a huge pilgrimage which makes the meaning of the whole thing quite heavy due to its proximity that these events have on the pilgrims even after all these years in the name of faith.

There is a lion’s gate Muslim quarter which starts at Via Dolorosa and ends at the holy sepulcher church. This covers a distance of about five hundred meters. And it has all the fourteen Stations of the Cross. There are many hotels in Jerusalem like the Glatt Kosher hotel, the Jerusalem pearl and other such hotels.

There are many snack bars, shops and the streets are quite busy and this is why the pilgrimage destination is nowhere pensive nor does it compliment a peace and quite visit.