The Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross is located in a Franciscan compound at Station 2 of the Via Dolorosa. This is the location which in tradition, Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land commemorate as the site where Jesus took up his cross after being sentenced to crucifixion (John 19:16). This belief was based on the discovery of a large Roman pavement stones, which are described in the Bible as part of Pilate’s judgment seat for the condemnation of Jesus.
The church is located on the east side of Via Dolorosa in Old Jerusalem, adjacent to the Church of the Flagellation, and it’s visited by most Christian Holy Land tours traveling to Jerusalem known as the Judgment Hall of Pontius Pilate (John 18:28). The original church was built during the Byzantine era. It was converted into a mosque before being restored to a Catholic church from 1903 -1904.
The design of the church is topped by five white domes, each with stained glass windows with the theme from Passion of Christ. In one Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus to the crucifixion, and another it shows John trying to keep the Virgin Mary from suffering in seeing Jesus carrying his cross along the Via Dolorosa. Pictures on the walls show Pontius Pilate washing his hands, and soldiers nailing Jesus to the cross. 4 marble pillars support the ceiling. An interesting feature of the church is the Roman-period floor along the western wall of the church. Common of floors of that time, it is made of large, striated stones that kept people from slipping.
While visiting the Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross, you’ll also see the Church of the Flagellation, which combined mark Station 2 of the Via Dolorosa during popular Christian group Israel trips to Old Jerusalem.