Stations of the Cross / ordeal
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Stations of the Cross
In Christianity, a form of devotion that retraces the path of Jesus Christ's suffering from his condemnation to the crucifixion and burial. It typically consists of 14 stations represented as pictures or sculptures.
In der Fastenzeit gehen viele Gläubige freitags den Kreuzweg in der Kirche.
During Lent, many believers walk the Stations of the Cross in church on Fridays.
ordeal
In a figurative sense, a long, difficult, and painful process or period of life that a person has to go through.
Der Kampf gegen seine schwere Krankheit war für ihn ein wahrer Kreuzweg.
The fight against his serious illness was a true ordeal for him.
The word is made up of 'Kreuz' (cross) and 'Weg' (way/path). It literally means 'the way of the cross' and originally refers to the path of Jesus Christ's suffering, which is the basis for both meanings.
Der Kreuzweg führt den Berg hinauf zu einer kleinen Kapelle.
The Stations of the Cross lead up the mountain to a small chapel.
In a religious context, 'Kreuzweg' (Stations of the Cross) is often used with the verb 'gehen' (to go/walk) or 'beten' (to pray). People say 'den Kreuzweg gehen' (to walk the Stations of the Cross) to describe performing the devotion.
Die Gemeinde versammelt sich, um gemeinsam den Kreuzweg zu beten.
The congregation gathers to pray the Stations of the Cross together.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the context. When it is about personal difficulties such as an illness, a legal dispute, or a lengthy task, the difficult process is usually meant.
Die jahrelange Pflege seiner Eltern war ein schwerer Kreuzweg für ihn.
Caring for his parents for years was a difficult ordeal for him.
passion
Passion and Kreuzweg both refer to the suffering and death of Jesus. Passion means the entire story of his suffering or a depiction of it, while Kreuzweg refers to the sequence of this path of suffering presented in individual stations. Passion is appropriate for the whole event, while Kreuzweg is used for the sequence of stations.
Die Gemeinde betete am Nachmittag den Kreuzweg mit seinen vierzehn Stationen.
In the afternoon, the congregation prayed the Stations of the Cross with its fourteen stations.
In der Kirche wird am Karfreitag die Passion Jesu gelesen.
The Passion of Jesus is read in the church on Good Friday.
