*Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief): If you enter the Old City from
Damascus Gate, take the left fork (El-Wad Rd.) and follow it a short distance
down until you come to the Via Dolorosa on your left. This is believed to be
the painful route taken by Jesus on his walk to crucifixion. Points along the
way where he is thought to have stopped or some memorable event occurred have
been marked as the fourteen Stations of the Cross. Franciscans lead groups in
prayer along the Via Dolorosa on Fridays at 3 p.m., starting at El-Omariye
School, Moslem Quarter, and ending in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
Christian Quarter. A pilgrims' reception plaza has been built inside St.
Stephen's Gate, where many tours begin.
Station I (Condemnation): in the grounds of El-Omariye School alongside ruins
of the South East Tower of the Antonia Fortress (named after Mark Antony by
Herod), where Christ was condemned to death.
Station II: across the road, to the left of the gate as you walk into the
Franciscan Bible School and Museum. A plaque on the wall indicates the spot.
The Chapel of the Flagellation to the right is an attractive Byzantine structure
with striking stained glass windows. An altar here is dedicated to St. Paul who
also spent time in the Antonia prison.
The Chapel of Condemnation, at the other end of the courtyard, is where Pilate
sentenced Jesus. Also a Byzantine structure, painted effigies inside portray
the scenes of the Condemnation and of Mary meeting Jesus (Station IV).
Proceeding along the Via Dolorosa, you come to the Ecce Homo Arch. The founder
of the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, Ratisbonne, believed (with little justification)
that this is where Pilate pointed to the bruised and whipped Jesus and said
``Ecce Homo!'' (Behold the Man!). The arch was erected by Hadrian in the 2nd
century but it does stand over ruins of the Antonia Fortress as does the
Convent of the Sisters of Zion where you should see the Antonia Museum, the
Ecce Home Basilica, the flagstones (Lithostratos - Greek) with games markings,
the Water Conduit, and so on. Groups are organized from the reception room.
Station III: at the corner of El-Wad and Dolorosa, adjoining the Armenian
Patriarchate and the Polish Biblical and Archaeological Museum. Traditionally,
this is where Jesus first fell. Station IV: a few steps further on, to the
left, a small oratory by the Armenian Church of Our Lady of the Spasm. Here
Jesus fell exhausted and was first seen by his mother.
Station V: situated across El-Wad Road up the steps to the right in a
Franciscan oratory. At this point, the Roman legionnaires forced a Libyan
(Simon of Cyrene) to carry Jesus' cross.
Station VI: further along the Via Dolorosa (which has followed roughly an ``S''
turn) is the Church of St. Veronica, at present kept by the Little Sisters (a
Greek order). Traditionally, a noblewoman, Veronica, rushed out on seeing Jesus
and wiped his face with a cloth on which his features became imprinted (vera
icone - true likeness).
Station VII: at the junction of Suq Khan Ez-Zeit St. and El Khanqa St., two
Franciscan chapels where Jesus fell for the second time. The red-tinted column
(from Hadrian's time) in one of the chapels gives the exact spot.
Station VIII: across the road from the seventh station, a cross on the wall of
the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Charalambos marks the spot where Jesus spoke to
the women of Jerusalem and foretold its destruction.
Station IX: off Suq Khan Ez-Zeit Street, steps to the right, a column at the
door of the Coptic Convent behind the Holy Sepulchre. Here Jesus fell for the
third time. The next five stations are in the nearby Church of the Holy
Sepulchre.
(Walk No. 3)
Viri Galilaei: the Latin for Men of Galilee - part of a group that also
witnessed Jesus' ascension. Near the above-named Greek church (and closer to
the Mount of Olives Road) is a Byzantine chapel commemorating archangel
Gabriel's meeting with Mary to tell her that she was about to die.
*The Walls nearly two miles of walls were built during the 16th century
by Suleiman the Magnificent, the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, to make Jerusalem
a ``walled city.'' The British Administration left them standing when it took control
400 years after Suleiman. The Jordanian army used the walls to snipe at people
on the Israeli side (1948-1967). Now the municipality has put railings on the
ramparts. You can walk from Jaffa Gate to Damascus Gate, and from Jaffa Gate to
Zion Gate and Dung Gate along the top of the wall. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Entrance fee.
Warren's Shaft (see also City of David): in the City of David
Archaeological Garden. Shows the underground water system of biblical
Jerusalem, connected to the Gihon Spring. Small museum with finds, photographs
and model of water works. Open: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Entrance fee.
(Bus No. l)
*Western (Wailing) Wall (Hakotel): Temple Mount. Together with
southwestern wall, comprises only remains of enclosure of Second Temple. After
destruction of Temple by Titus in 70 CE was symbol of lost glory and
consequently dubbed ``Wailing Wall.'' Since Jerusalem reunited under Jewish
sovereignty in Six Day War it has continued as open-air synagogue the adjacent
plaza is a forum for dancing, singing and meetings.
Large limestone blocks are Herodian. Smaller stones added by Byzantines, Arabs
and Turks. Right-hand side for women, left for men. Vaulted arches screened
from view on left known as Wilson's Arch, which in Herodian times linked Temple
Mount with Upper City. More than l5 metres of wall lie below ground level and
length runs past Via Dolorosa. Visits to the Wall tunnels on request.
(Walk Nos. 1 and 2. Bus Nos. 1, 38)
*Wilson's Arch: excavations next to the Western Wall carried out by
19th-century British explorer, Capt. Charles Wilson. Open: Sun., Tues., Wed.
8.30 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon., Thurs. 12.30-3 p.m., Fri. 8.30 a.m.- noon. Free.
Wohl Rose Park: located next to the Knesset. Twenty acres planted with
over 500 strains of beautiful roses. Tours can be arranged .