The
Stations of the Cross began not as a series of art works, but as an actual
journey. In the early days of Christianity pilgrims would travel to Jerusalem
to walk, reflect and pray along the path that Christ took from Pilate's
Hall (now the Fortress of Antonia) where he was sentanced to die, to Golgotha
where he was crucified. Though the routes often varied and were even traveled
in reverse order, the spiritual journey was what was significant. By the
sixteenth century this route became known as the Via Dolorosa or Way of
Sorrow.
During this time the path was marked with intervals or "Halting Places" where the devout would stop and pray.
Very few in those days could make such a journey and in 1686 a decree was given that allowed for the making of Stations to be erected in believers' home countries so they could make this pilgimage in spirit. The number of Stations varied dramatically but by the seventeenth century they became set at the fourteen we know today.
During this time the path was marked with intervals or "Halting Places" where the devout would stop and pray.
Very few in those days could make such a journey and in 1686 a decree was given that allowed for the making of Stations to be erected in believers' home countries so they could make this pilgimage in spirit. The number of Stations varied dramatically but by the seventeenth century they became set at the fourteen we know today.
| 1. Jesus is
condemned to death 2. Jesus is given His cross 3. Jesus falls for the first time 4. Jesus meets His mother 5. Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 7. Jesus falls for the second time 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem 9. Jesus falls for the third time 10. Jesus is stripped of His garments 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross 12. Jesus dies upon the cross 13. Jesus is taken down from the cross 14. Jesus is burried in the tomb |
In modern times the number is often left at twelve, ending with the Crucifixion.