Foto Friday - Israel day 5

Day 5...

The morning began with this view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, where Bishop Carter gave a devotion.

Next, we walked the Via Dolorosa.

The culmination of the Via Dolorosa is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the last four stations of the traditional fourteen stations of the cross.

Station XI: Jesus is nailed to the cross.  Located in the right corner of the room, the scene is depicted here on the wall.

Station XII: Crucifixion and death. This station is on the left side of the room and represents where the cross was erected and Jesus died. Here pilgrims are waiting their turn to crawl under the altar to touch a silver disk which marks the location of Jesus' cross. The line was very slow moving and by the time it was my turn they had begun to rush people along. As a result of my haste, my photograph failed to turn out.

Station XIII: Jesus is taken down from the cross. This station  includes the stone of the Anointment, where Jesus' body was laid and anointed with a mixture of myrrh and oils.

Station XIV: Jesus laid in the tomb. The tomb lies in the center of the the church. It is divided in two - the ante-room known as Chapel of the Angel, and the inner room where the tomb itself is located. I was unable to go inside because of how long the line was to enter.

A beautiful photograph of the ceiling over the tomb.

After walking the Via Dolorosa, we left the Old City of Jerusalem and visited the Israel Museum, which displays this 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem during the second temple period. Built stone by stone, it is an impressive sight.

Another attraction at the Israel Museum is the Shrine of the Book which houses the state of Israel's most treasured artifact...the complete scroll of Isaiah found with the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran. Photography inside was prohibited.

Finally, our day ended with a somber visit to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust History Museum. Photography was prohibited inside, however, this breathtaking view of Jerusalem Forest was waiting from the balcony of the museum's exit.

Next up, day 6...