The Stations of the Cross According to Amber

I arrived in Israel 37½ hours after I left India.

They were the best 37 ½ hours of my life, particularly the 10 ½ hours of turbulence fun flight time.

After meeting Xavier at the airport, checking into our hotel and having a few hours sleep, we headed out into the old city to do some shopping and complete the Stations of the Cross.

Here is photo recount of my experience plus a brief historical account of the important bits (thanks to Wikipedia, a self guide book that cost 5 sheckles and the shared pool of Catholic school knowledge from Xavier and I).

Station Number One

Jesus is Condemned to Death

“Here’s the Church built where Jesus was condemned to death” says Xavier.

Wow.

I Went all out.

Said a prayer, doused my face in holy water and did the whole kneeling down thing.

I was feeling really spiritual until we walked past the real church where Jesus was condemned to death.

Thanks Xavier.

Unfortunately I couldn’t do the same “religious” thing that I did at the first church because the real church was packed with pilgrims (who would have guessed). So here’s a photo of the ground of the real place where Jesus was condemned to death (the blurriness and pilgrim feet are an added bonus).

Station Number Two

Jesus takes up the cross

This station was in the same vicinity as station number one, except it was marked with a cross. I wanted to take up a wooden cross and walk with it, but Xavier said no. His reason being that I’d end up walking 5 meters and then make him carry it the entire rest of the way. Pfft.

Also around this area was The “Ecce Homo” Arch where Pilate showed Jesus to the awaiting crowd of people and yelled “Behold the man” (according to the 5 Sheckle guide book, however he probs said something more along the lines of “ROFL look at this guy”).

We also walked past the “Praetorium” where Jesus was crowned with thorns, but it cost 9 Sheckles to get in (which we weren’t going to pay) so here is a picture of its doors.

Station Number Three

Jesus Falls for the First Time

Here is what I originally thought station number three was.

Spiritual huh?

Then we walked around the corner and found the real station number three.

Station Number Four

Jesus Meets his Mother

Here is a picture of the entrance to station number four as well as a strategically placed Armenian Restaurant’s Pizza menu.

Station number four is a beautiful little silent chapel.

I presume that "Silentium" is “Silence” in another language which Xavier and I managed to respect, other pilgrims not so much. They just kept crying.

The place where Jesus met his mother is marked with a mosaic of his shoes.

This station is also beautiful depicted in sculpture form where Jesus probably said to Mary "Don't worry mum. Just going to Dad's for a bit. Be back on Sunday". But that's probably not what he said.

Station Number Five

Simon the Cyrenian is forced to carry the cross

This station was a door.

 Here is a picture of me and Xavier's thumb in front of the door.

Station Number Six

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

Here is a picture of what some one was trying to pass off as the sixth station of the cross.

Please pay particular attention to the stairs that lead into a dark dark place that probably kidnaps tourists and sells them as slaves.

Here is the real station six.

I would have loved to have taken some more pictures, however we had started to attract a small gang of local children. Seeing as children hunt and kill in gangs, we decided to quickly move on to the next station.

Station Number Seven

Jesus Falls for the Second Time

Again another door

I'm sure there is something of significance behind the door, but it was shut. By this stage the gang of children had morphed into a gang of pilgrims, so once again we sped through this station.

Station Number Eight

Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem

Here is a picture of station number eight

 And here is a picture of me entering what I thought was the door leading to station number eight.

For the record, turns out I was wrong. It was someone's private court yard.

As we couldn't really find anything related to station number eight, please accept this picture of three stray cats Xavier took. The black one is eating a bone.

Station Number Nine

Jesus Falls for the Third Time

IF I was allowed to carry the cross I wanted to carry in the first place, I would have left it here.

 At night this station lights up, emphasising how neon can make ANYTHING tasteful.

 After the ninth station there is a door way to a tiny court yard. The court yard is actually an Ethiopian Monastery. It's a very quiet and peaceful spot that seems so far away from everything.

 Here is a picture of me outside the Ethiopian Monastery. Notice the lack of pilgrims.

Station Number Ten

Jesus is Stripped of his Garments

Stations ten through to fourteen are all in the Holy Sepulchre, which is built over the air space where Jesus died.

Station ten is set in the courtyard outside. 

I have a fancy setting on my camera that makes pictures like this. 

Station Number Eleven

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

From station eleven onwards, shit started to get real.

They are all set inside Holy Sepulchre and it is the most AMAZING structure I have ever seen in my whole life EVER. Seriously.

Station Number Twelve

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Station Number Thirteen
Jesus is Take Down from the Cross


The culturally accepted stone where Jesus was laid.

Station Number Fourteen
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

DISCLAIMER- Although it appears I have taken the Stations of the Cross light heartedly, I actually found the entire experience amazing both spiritually and culturally.


Look, here's even a picture of me eating shwarma. Yum.