Today we followed the path that would have taken Jesus from condemnation to crucifixion. The places where Jesus was condemned and flogged are each marked by small chapels. From there we walked a short way to the Antonio Fortress to see the historical ruins of Herod’s fortress. This was the last place we sat down until lunch time. As we continued on the path to Calvary you couldn’t help but notice how narrow the streets would have been. Even if people were only one deep on each side it would have been difficult to get down the street. Imagine dragging a cross with you. We had to fight back vendors that pressed us on each side. Still today the road is cobbled and uneven, with us continually having to watch our step. Imagine being bare footed or even clad only in sandals. And there were very few flat bits; seemingly the road was up or down hill. It was hard physically. Emotionally it was draining.
We arrived at the Church of the Sepulchre. It covers the site of Calvary, where the body would have been washed, and the probable site of Jesus’ burial. This Church is maintained by many different Christian traditions, the Catholics and various Orthodox traditions. In keeping with the context, it is very dimly lit. Our group began by entering the worship cave for the Syrian Orthodox church within the church. Adjacent to the cave are old tombs carved into the wall. These would have been similar to the tombs that Jesus was placed into.
The steps to Calvary are marble and worn into an ellipse by the feet of millions of pilgrims. As I stood in line to kneel at the place of the cross, a nun was on a ladder dusting the lamps and relighting the candles, reminding me that this was still a worshiping church. The place where the cross would have been placed into the ground is covered by an altar, and there is no way to access it except by kneeling at the foot of the cross.
This was a thin place.
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