The Via Dolorosa

Wake-up call on Tuesday, March 22 was at 3:30 AM! We were to walk the Via Dolorosa and say the Stations of the Cross before dawn because of the vendors that lined the streets in the day time. We ate a continental breakfast and were on the bus by 4 AM. It was dark and chilly. We went immediately to the Via Dolorosa to follow the Way of the Cross. We had to use our flashlights to see and to read the daily readings. Each person in our group helped carry the cross at one time or another. It was not the big, heavy cross that Jesus must have borne, but we got the message anyway! It was black dark for a while and at least thirty stray cats were foraging for food in the garbage lying about. We stopped and prayed at each station along the way. We ended up at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. It is huge and divided into sections for each religion: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Latin Catholic. We viewed the pillar where Christ was scourged, the flat stone bed where He was annointed and wrapped in linen after having been taken down from the cross. We also saw His empty tomb and where St. Helen found the true cross. The Tomb was very impressive. It was in the center of the Basilica and seemed to be a separate monument. Greek priest and monks in black robes and hats had Mass in their section. Two richly garbed attendants swung incense bearers as the priests entered and departed the altar reserved for them. We stood in line waiting to see the tomb for at least thirty minutes.