The Emergence of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries

Abstract

The route commonly known as the Way of the Cross has been one of Jerusalem’s most prominent axes for around 700 years. Due to its spatial, narrative and devotional features, as well as the historical circumstances under which it evolved, the Way of the Cross constitutes a unique phenomenon in the city’s devotional sphere. The present article addresses the earliest history of this religious axis and spatial practice, focusing on the period spanning the twelfth to the late thirteenth century. It discusses the dynamics of Christian devotion contingent upon a combination of phenomena and changing circumstances and points to the innovative features of the Way of the Cross within the Jerusalemite pilgrimage routine.