Via Dolorosa
Station XIII - Lamentation of Christ

The VIA DOLOROSA (or Way of Suffering in Latin) is an actual, historical street within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and is universally believed to be the actual path upon which Jesus walked, from his trial to his crucifixion to his entombment. The Via Dolorosa is regarded as a site of holy pilgrimage by believing Christians, as well as a very popular tourist site, combining history, archaeology and folklore. The present exact route was established in the 1700’s but originated in the 1400’s. In Roman times, especially with Emperor Hadrian, standard city design established the main roads as east-west, intersected by a north-south road called the Cardo (“heart” in Latin), all excavated, unearthed and extant since the 20th century.

Christian pilgrimage to the Via Dolorosa became popular starting in the Byzantine era, on Holy Thursday, originating from the summit of the Mount of Olives, via Gethsemane, the Lion’s Gate and culminating in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Subsequent generations and denominations altered the route until it was finally and chronologically set out by the Franciscans in the early 1500’s.

Since then the Via Dolorosa has become a place not only of pilgrimage, but of devotion and meditation for believers, as well as an exciting and authentic tourist attraction.

• The 1st and 2nd Stations commemorate the event of Jesus encounter and trial with Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.
• Stations 3, 7 and 9 commemorate the 3 times Jesus stumbled and fell under the weight of his cross.
• The 4th Station reflects popular tradition of a meeting between Jesus and his mother Mary on the route.
• The 5th Station refers to the episode in the Synoptic Gospels, where Simon of Cyrene carries the cross for Jesus, while the 6th Station refers to the miraculous imprinting of Jesus’ visage becoming imprinted on Veronica’s veil as she wiped his face with it.
• The 8th Station comes from the gospel of Luke, where Jesus encountered a group of pious women and stopped to give them a sermon.
• The 10th Station shows Jesus stripped of his garments, as was the custom in Roman crucifixions.
• The 11th Station shows the horror of the moment as spikes are driven through his hands and feet as he is nailed to the wood of the cross.
• The 12th Station shows the death of Jesus on the cross
• The 13th Station shows Jesus being taken down from the cross, before the 14th and last Station, where he is laid to rest in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea, who opposed the trial and crucifixion.

Metal: Bronze, 24K Gold Plated
Weight: 26.2 g
Quality: Prooflike
Diameter: 39mm
With Colorization