From all of us at Doves & Serpents, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy New Year! We’ve so enjoyed writing for you and hope you’ve enjoyed reading. We are taking a holiday this week, but we’ll be back to posting on January 1.
For now, we’ll leave you with a bonus (and Christmas-themed) Ride to Church.
Today’s Ride to Church comes from Torben and Marissa who are currently touring Israel, Palestine, Eilat, Jordan and Turkey. Their photographs trace the Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Grief or Way of Suffering) a street in the Old City (the older walled portion of the modern city) of Jerusalem. This is the traditional route that Jesus followed bearing His cross from Pilate’s judgment hall to Calvary Hill or Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion. The current route has been established since the 18th century, replacing various earlier versions. It is marked by nine stations of the Cross; with the remaining five stations being inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The first station, where Jesus is condemned to death, is marked by a Muslim school and minaret. Torben and Marissa were not allowed entry, but they were able to take photos of the other 14 stations. The route is a place of Christian pilgrimage (Some of the information about the Via Dolorosa taken from Wikipedia).
So cool and I love that these photos were taken just a few days ago! Thank you Torben and Marissa. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.
Wow. Stunning pictures. I am fascinated by the convergence of so many religious traditions in one place.