Station 14

Station 14 stands in Altusried, Germany, as the final scene in a traditional Christian Stations of the Cross. Here, Jesus is laid in the tomb. Images or sculptures at these stations follow his final journey, beginning with condemnation and ending with burial. Burial scenes often include Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, remembered for helping with Jesus’s burial. Small details such as simple clothing, a head covering, or a jar of ointment can distinguish these figures.

The fourteen-station form became common around 1600, bringing reflection on Good Friday closer to communities unable to travel to Jerusalem. You move from station to station. Franciscan monks began this tradition in Jerusalem during the fourteenth century, and it later spread through European churches and outdoor settings. Fourteen is usually the final number. Some paths add a fifteenth station for the resurrection, with a church or chapel representing that conclusion. Painted, carved, and cast-metal versions show how local artists shape the tradition. During Lent, this final scene offers a place to consider suffering, compassion, and hope.