Jesus falls for the first time.
Station 3 is one of the stations that have no Biblical justification. It was added as a tradition over time, most likely in one of the iterations developed in Europe. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t significant.
In all four gospels, we get the sense that the procession took a toll on Jesus which eventually leads to the Roman Soldiers enlisting the help of Simon of Cyrene.
Station 3 is located on the corner of Via Dolorosa St. and Al Wad St.. You’ll know you’ve found it because there is an Israeli security detail on the corner. Right next to the security detail is Station 3.
There is a small chapel inside that you can visit if it is open. I’m not sure of the hours as every time I passed by; it was closed.
Don’t wander off though, because Station 4 is right next to you.
- What is the Via Dolorosa?
- Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death
- Station 2: Jesus takes up his cross
- Station 3: Jesus falls for the first time
- Station 4: Jesus meets his mother
- Station 5: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus
- Station 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
- Station 7: Jesus falls for the second time
- Station 8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
- Station 9: Jesus falls for the third time
- Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments
- Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
- Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross
- Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross
- Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb