Calvary (religion)

The Way of the Cross (Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa in Latin) is a component of the overall tradition of the Christian Passover . It is an imitation of the agony of Christ from the courthouse (the palace of the Romanprocurator Pontius Pilate ) up on the hill Calvary, his place of execution.

The word station is derived from the Latin word statio, that means standing or moving.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, it is since the 15th century as a religious exercise, including on Good Friday occurs. During the Calvary believers praying and commemorating go along fourteen Stations of the Cross called over. A Stations of the Cross is a painting or relief that depicts a scene from the agony of Jesus and his death process. The worship is attributed by authors from different sources. Thus the Cross exercise would go on H. Virgin Mary in Jerusalem, the place of the Via Dolorosa visited. However, generally above the efficacy of St. Francis of Assisi considered responsible for the spread of the Cross prayers.

Especially the Franciscans, including the Franciscan Leonard of Porto Maurizio , have been meritorious in establishing cross roads. Because the number of stations differed here and there, some Pope Clement XII(pope from 1730 to 1740) the number fourteen. In 1741 the Cross became mandatory in all Catholic churches. When Franciscans and Clares was the Cross every Friday prayers.

In some places there is later added to a station, called Easter station depicting how Jesus Christ rises from the dead after he saved the people by the sacrifice.

To the performance of the Cross by the popes during several centuries a full indulgence connected under normal conditions.