Pantheon: The 14 Stations of the Cross

Map

1: Jesus is condemned to death.

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Since 2010, the church of Santa Maria ad Martyres, better known as the Pantheon, has been home to a beautiful set of  bronze reliefs depicting the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The graphic reliefs are the work of the sculptor Federico Severino (b. 1953), who hails from the city of Brescia. 

The Stations of the Cross are a series of fourteen images illustrating events in the Passion of Christ. The stations grew out of a desire to imitate the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary.

​The object of the Stations of the Cross is to help the faithful make a spiritual pilgrimage through the contemplation of the Passion of Christ. A series of 14 numbered images is arranged along a path (or mounted on the inside walls of a church) and the faithful travel from station to station, stopping at each to say the selected prayers. This act is most commonly performed during Lent, and especially on Good Friday. 

The traditional 14 Stations of the Cross are:
1: Jesus is condemned to death.
2: Jesus is made to carry his cross.
3: Jesus falls for the first time.
4: Jesus meets his mother, Mary.
5: Simon of Cyrene is made to carry the cross.
6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
7: Jesus falls for the second time.
8: The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus.
9: Jesus falls for the third time.
10: Jesus is stripped of his clothes.
11: Jesus is nailed to the cross.
12: Jesus dies on the cross.
13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.
14: Jesus is placed in the tomb.
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Although not traditionally part of the 14 Stations, the Resurrection of Jesus is, in very rare instances, included as a 15th station.

In his depiction of the Stations of the Cross, Severino hasn't added an extra scene, but has replaced the traditional Entombment with the Resurrection. 

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2: Jesus is made to carry his cross

3. Jesus falls for the first time

4. Jesus meets his mother, Mary

5: Simon of Cyrene is made to carry the cross

6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

7: Jesus falls for the second time

8: The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus

9: Jesus falls for the third time

10: Jesus is stripped of his clothes

11: Jesus is nailed to the cross

12: Jesus dies on the cross

13: Jesus is taken down from the cross

14: The Resurrection