Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross, Catholic church at Via Dolorosa, Muslim Quarter, Jerusalem.
The Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross sits on Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem and features five white domes rising on drum-shaped bases. The house of worship contains stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.
A Byzantine-era church first stood here; it later became a mosque and was rebuilt as a Catholic church in 1903/1904 by Wendelin Hinterkeuser on the Byzantine walls. Christian tradition long placed the condemnation of Jesus at the Antonia fortress destroyed in 70 AD, though the destroyed Herodian palace on the western hill is also considered.
The apse holds papier-mâché figures: one shows Pilate condemning Jesus, another John holding back the Virgin Mary as Jesus carries the cross. Wall illustrations depict Pilate washing his hands and soldiers imposing the cross. Four pink marble pillars support the ceiling, and miniature Corinthian columns appear to hold up the altar.
The church stands at the Second Station of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, inside the Franciscan monastery courtyard shared with the Church of the Flagellation. The Roman-period flagstones lie next to the western wall, below the level of the present floor. Groups of pilgrims pass through the Via Dolorosa in procession, so the courtyard and the narrow street outside can be crowded.
Along the western wall remain Roman period flagstones bearing distinctive grooves designed to prevent animals from slipping on smooth surfaces. These ancient stones provide direct connection to the site's ancient past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,643 contributors worldwide.
