Stations of the Cross

Definition and Meaning

The Stations of the Cross is a devotional practice in which Jesus Christ's journey is divided into a series of scenes that are meditated upon and prayed through in order. The journey runs from his sentencing to death by Pilate, through his carrying of the cross to Golgotha, to his death and burial in the tomb. In Latin the devotion is called the Via Crucis ("Way of the Cross"). In the Catholic Church each scene is called a "station," and the devotion usually consists of fourteen stations.

The term is also used in a broader sense. Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). In keeping with this saying, the Christian life of following Jesus amid suffering and obedience is sometimes described figuratively as "the way of the cross."

Biblical and Historical Background

The Gospels record several scenes from this journey:

• Jesus going forth bearing his own cross (John 19:17)
• Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross in his place (Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)
• Jesus' words to the women who followed him, weeping and lamenting (Luke 23:27-31)

In the Old City of Jerusalem, pilgrims walk the Via Dolorosa ("Way of Sorrows"), a route traditionally identified as this path. Scholars differ, however, on where the actual route lay.

From the Middle Ages onward, a custom developed in Europe of reproducing these scenes inside churches for the faithful who were unable to travel to Jerusalem. The present form of fourteen stations is generally said to have become established around the eighteenth century. Some of the traditional fourteen stations draw on traditions not recorded in Scripture, such as the scenes in which Jesus falls three times and in which Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. For this reason, a "Scriptural Way of the Cross," composed only of scenes grounded in the Gospel texts, is also used within the Catholic Church.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Catholic Church: Paintings or sculptures of the fourteen stations hang on the walls of most Catholic churches. During Lent, especially on the Fridays of Lent and on Good Friday, the faithful move from station to station in prayer.
• Anglican Church of Korea: Some parishes hold a Stations of the Cross service during Lent and Holy Week.
• Various Protestant denominations: Since the Reformation, Protestants have not traditionally observed this practice. Some Presbyterian churches in particular, standing in the Reformed tradition, take a cautious position for the following reasons:
• It makes extrabiblical tradition an object of meditation.
• It involves praying before images.

In recent years, however, some churches across denominational lines have adopted the practice during Holy Week in the form of meditative services, orders of prayer, or exhibitions, with the scenes drawn solely from biblical texts.

• Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is a common part of Holy Land pilgrimages for Korean Christians, regardless of denomination.
• Preaching and devotional vocabulary: In Protestant preaching and devotional literature, "the way of the cross" is used more widely to mean discipleship, that is, the life of following Jesus, than to denote a specific rite.