Chapel of Simon of Cyrene

Place of worship in the Palestinian territories

The Chapel of Simon of Cyrene is a Catholic chapel belonging to the Franciscans in the Old City of Jerusalem.^[1]

The place marks the fifth station of Via Dolorosa, and refers to the biblical episode in which Simon of Cyrene takes Jesus' cross, and carries it for him.^[2] Although this narrative is included in the three Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not mention Simon of Cyrene^[3] but instead emphasizes the portion of the journey during which Jesus carried the cross himself.^[4] The current traditional site for the station is located at the east end of the western fraction of the Via Dolorosa, adjacent to the Chapel of Simon of Cyrene, a Franciscan construction built in 1895. An inscription, in the architrave of the main entrance from the Via Dolorosa, bears the inscription "[line 1] Simoni - Cyrenaeo [line 2] Crux Imponitur" references the Synoptic events.^[5]

Prior to the 15th century, this location was instead considered to be the House of the Poor Man, and honoured as the fifth station for that reason;^[6] the name refers to the Lukan tale of Lazarus and Dives,^[7] this Lazarus being a beggar, and Dives being the Latin word for [one who is] Rich. Adjacent to the alleged House of the Poor Man is an arch over the road; the house on the arch was thought to be the corresponding House of the Rich Man.^[6] The houses in question are believed to date to the Middle Ages.^[8]

References

^ "Chapel of Simon of Cyrene".
^ Mark 15:21
^ John 19:17
^ Simon of Cyrene – Bible Study
^ Simon the Cross Bearer Inscription "Chapel of Simon of Cyrene". Madain Project. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b Dave Winter, Israel Handbook, page 126
^ Luke 16:19–31
^ Catholic Encyclopedia, entry for Dives

Old City of Jerusalem and its walls

World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1981
Sorted by religions

Christianity

"Status Quo"

Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Deir es-Sultan
- Chapel of Saint Helena
Via Dolorosa
See also: New Church of the Theotokos

Catholic

Latin
(Patriarch)

Co-Cathedral of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Franciscans (Custos)	Monastery of Saint Saviour Monastery of the Flagellation Church of the Condemnation Church of the Flagellation Chapel of Simon of Cyrene

Defunct	Church of Saint James Intercisus Church of Saint Mary of the Germans Church of Saint Mary of the Latins Templum Domini

Melkite Catholic
(Patriarch)

Cathedral of the Annunciation

Armenian Catholic

Church of Our Lady of Sorrows

Maronite Catholic

Maronite Convent

Eastern
Orthodox

Greek Orthodox (Patriarch)	Church of Saint John the Baptist

Oriental
Orthodox

Armenian Orthodox (Patriarch)	Cathedral of Saint James Church of the Holy Archangels Church of Saint Toros
Syriac Orthodox	Monastery of Saint Mark
Coptic Orthodox (Archbishop)	Deir es-Sultan

Protestant

Anglican Communion

Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East	Christ Church

Lutheran

Protestant Church in Germany	Church of the Redeemer

Areas, quarters

Christian
Quarter

Muristan

Muslim
Quarter

Armenian
Quarter

Jewish
Quarter

Temple
Mount

Gates
1. Jaffa 2. Zion 3. Dung 4. Golden 5. Lions 6. Herod
7. Damascus 8. New (Double, Single, Tanners')
Al-Mawazin

Surrounding streets, roads:

Highway 60
Jaffa Road
Jericho
Ma'ale HaShalom
Ofel
Sultan Suleiman

Islam
(Sunni Islamic
Grand Mufti)

Al-Aqsa (Waqf)	Qibli Mosque Dome of the Ascension Dome of the Chain Dome of al-Khidr Dome of al-Khalili Dome of the Prophet Dome of the Rock Dome of Yusuf Madrasa Al-Ashrafiyya Marwani Mosque
Other mosques	Al-Buraq Mosque Al-Yaqoubi Mosque Al-Khanqah al-Salahiyya Mosque Mosque of Omar Al Dissi Mosque Sidna Omar Mosque