For Christians, Good Friday is a very important day. It is the most somber day of Holy Week. The Way of the Cross through Tallinn's Old Town helps us reflect on suffering, compassion, and hope.
The Way of the Cross began at the Tallinn Cathedral. The Way of the Cross has 14 stations. These are divided among different churches. The stations were introduced already in the Middle Ages. They represent significant moments in Jesus' life. For example, when he was condemned and when he took up the cross.
For the first time, the Way of the Cross led to an Orthodox church. This is the main church of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Tallinn. This year, Western Christians and Eastern Christians are celebrating Good Friday together.
The Orthodox church houses the grave of Martyr Bishop Platon. The church has a long and interesting history. The church has been in use for 800 years. It has been part of the Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox periods.
The Way of the Cross also had stops at St. Olaf's Church, St. Peter and St. Paul's Cathedral, and St. John's Church. This time, St. Charles' Church was left out of the journey. Dean Jaak Aus said that too many churches make the journey long.
The tradition of the Way of the Cross is old and has a Catholic background. The tradition of the Way of the Cross in Tallinn began at St. Charles' Church. At one point, the people could not fit inside the church, and thus began the Way of the Cross procession, which connects different churches.