Viacrucis - Stations of the Cross

Holy Week in Guatemala

Viacrucis are the Stations of the Cross that represent the steps or pasos that Jesus took to the Cross. These are represented by crosses with numbers set up in front of homes along the route of each procession or small shrines. These crosses also have a pictorial representation of each station on them and the processions stop to pray at each station.

There are fourteen Stations of the Cross in total:

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
4. Jesus is denied by Peter
5. Jesus is judged by Pilate
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
7. Jesus takes up His cross
8. Jesus is helped by Simon to carry His cross
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
10. Jesus is crucified
11. Jesus promises His kingdom to the repentant thief
12. Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other
13. Jesus dies on the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

At each station, the procession stops and the Bible passage associated with it is read aloud through a megaphone.

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