Jerusalem Day 25 - September 22, 2009

Our day was supposed to begin with going to the Temple Mount, but when we got there it was closed off. Therefore, we went on to the Pools of Bethesda instead. This is the same pool where Jesus Healed the Paralyzed man. There are at least two pools and could have been more. The legend was that when the water was Stirred, the first one into it would be Healed. The Paralyzed man was laying at the side because no one would help him into the pool. When Jesus got there he Healed the man. This is also the site where Mary was born.

The rest of our day was spent going to all of the stations of the cross via the Via Dolorosa. This was one of the best things we have done thus far. The stations are as follows:

I. Christ condemned to death
II. The cross laid upon him
III. His first fall
IV. He meets His Blessed Mother
V. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
VI. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica
VII. His second fall
VIII. He meets the women of Jerusalem
IV. His third fall
X. He is stripped of His garments
XI. His crucifixion
XII. His death on the cross
XIII. His body is taken down from the cross
XIV. Laid in the tomb

Many people say that station XV is then his resurection. The walk was very interesting, stopping at every station to learn more about it. The Vio Dolorosa is what the Catholics believe to be the actual walk of Jesus to his death and then burial. The last four stations are all located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The most interesting thing to me in the church was at the very opening of it. They have the stone that Jesus body was laid on to be anointed. Many people walk by and touch or kiss it. Another interesting thing about the church is that four different churches have ownerships on it. The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptics, and Roman Catholics all have parts of the church. Each church has three months of the year where they have people spend the night there so that the other religions will not harm the building. The funny thing is that the key holder of the church is a Muslim and not even a Christian at all! This day was one of the most interesting.