PILGRIMAGE through Israel - Part 3

APRIL 6 - GOOD FRIDAY

A group of us travelled from Jerusalem to Bethany. Before it used to be possible to just walk from the Mt. of Olives down the hill towards Bethany. However since the building of the wall that cuts off the Palestinian territories, the pilgrims now have to take mini-buses towards Bethany.

The photos are those taken in the site of the graveyard where Lazarus was buried and where
Jesus raised him from the dead. One enters a cave and go down the equivalent of 3 storeys of stone stairs. We had to pay 4 shekels (US$1) to enter the cave. Palestinian Muslims have
control over the cave. On top of the cave is a mosque.

At the very bottoom of the cave.

Entrance to the cave on the road level.






This is one place supposed to be on the oldest remaining houses in Nazareth. Being so, the people here clai, that Jesus could have met Mary and Martha in this house.

The shrine-church in Nazareth that reminds the pilgrim of the special relationship between Jesus and the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

On the facade of the church are the paintings of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

The main altar of the church with a mosaic of the Resurrection.

Mosaic art showing Jesus with the two sisters.

Downtown Bethany on Good Friday morning when shops where closed and very few vehicles running. Majority of the peoeple here are Palestinian Muslims.







THE VIA CRUCIS ON GOOD FRIDAY IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

LED BY THE FRANCISCANS

Began at 12:30 noon near St. Anne's Basilica near the Lion's Gate and

ended past 2:00 PM at the Holy Sepulchere Basilica.

At the doorstep of Ecce Homo along the Via

Dolorosa we wait for the Via Crucis to begin.

Crowd begin to gather for the Via Crucis.

First Station near the Franciscans'

Place along the Via Dolorosa.

Crowd increases and Via Dolorosa gets packed: Here are Stations 2 and 3.

Station 4 near the Armenian Shrine at the convergence of the two sections of the Via Dolorosa in front of the Austrian Hospice.

Station commemorating Jesus meeting his mother, Mary.

As the Via Dolorosa veers towards the direction of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, where Mt. Calvary was.

Station where Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus.

There is a small shrine at the spot along the

Via Dolorosa.

The crowd gets nearer the Holy Sepulcher.

At the square of the Holy Sepulcher believed to be Mt. Calvary.

At the site where Jesus was taken dozn by the cross is a big slab of rock which is believed to where the Pieta took place (or where Mary embraced the dead body of Jesus). Here the thousands of people take turns to kiss the rock and to place papers on which promises or prayers were written. It is quite a sight to see in terms of the intensity of the popular religious expression of the devotees - men, women, young people, the old, people of various nationalities and races!

Pilgrims and devotees crowd the enclosed space within the church believed to enclose the tomb of Jesus. There is pandemonium as everyone try to enter the crypt of the tomb. Greek Orthodox priests and Jewish soldiers block off the space so no one can enter the crypt except the select few.

From the top, one can have a good view of those trying to get to kiss the stone slab.