As I feel the heat of the sun and the warm air around me I realize that Holy Week is fast approaching. The life and death of our Lord and Savior comes to my mind. A large percentage of the population in our country are Roman Catholics. I myself is not a Roman Catholic but I have high respect for the religion and art form. From the stained glass windows of cathedrals, paintings on the walls, statues of Saints and martyrs, history of each artifact and the architecture of old churches all these has captured my curiosity. I am no art expert not a theology scholar but the subject has driven a passion in me to explore art and religion. Join me as I present to you the Stations of the Cross made by an unknown artist from Bohol from the 1830's.

Unknown Master of the Stations

Also referred to as Via Crucis here in our country the Stations of the Cross tells the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Fourteen scenes which are often displayed on stained glass in churches, paintings and wood carvings.

Station I - From the top left painting Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to die by crucifixion.

Station II - From the top right painting He is given the cross that he will carry on the way to His crucifixion.

Station III - Top painting Jesus falls as he carries the cross. Opinions says that the cross He carried was around 300 pounds in weight.

Station IV - Painting on the left is a scene where Mary shows her grief seeing Jesus on His way to be crucified with the cross He is bearing.

Station V - Painting at the bottom show Simon of Cyrene helping to carry the cross.

There are speculations that says Simon was chosen and forced to help carry the cross. Popular beliefs says that he felt compassion as he saw the suffering of Jesus and therefore helped carry the burden of the cross.

Compassion is innate in most us as human beings. It is hard to look away when someone is suffering or in need. To help in our own little way we are working on a group that we will be forming to do give aid where it is needed the most in our area.

Station VI

The scene shows Veronica and the veil which imprinted the face of Jesus

Station VII - The Second time that He fell with the cross. With the burden carried He falls again but He gets back up to continue with the burden. The weight of it is enormous and His suffering for us is overwhelming.

As depicted in the painting Jesus has endured more suffering as He is whipped while down on His knees.

Station VIII - The women of Jerusalem sees Jesus Christ

Jesus tells them not to cry for Him but instead for their sins and the sins of their children. This is His way of telling them that His suffering is for their sins.

Station IX - The third time where Jesus falls.

Station X - His clothes are stripped off

Station XI - The scene of being nailed to the cross

Station XII - The death of Jesus on the cross

Station XIII - He is brought down from the cross and held by Mary.

Station XIV - Jesus is prepared to be taken to the tomb

The fourteen scenes of the stations of the cross. Full of grief and suffering of Jesus Christ who paid for our sins on the cross. The artwork of the unknown artist will always be seen and remembered with his depiction which is on display in our National Museum for our future generations.

Thank you for joining me today and have a good evening.

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All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 and 12-32 mm