Prison of the Thieves and Barabbas

 Greek Orthodox Partorium Church (The Prison of Christ)

Many churches of significance to Jesus’ Way of the Cross are found along the Via Dolorosa. The Greek Orthodox believe that the site of the Partorium Church located on the Via Dolorosa Street, in between the Austrian Hospice Junction and the Ecce Homo Arch is where Jesus’ trial (“Partorium”) was held. Jesus and the two thieves were held here in prison. One of the Roman prison cells was identified by the Greeks as belonging to Jesus. No one really knows the exact site of the Partorium (or Praetorium) Church: Choose one of the following –

• Near the Ecce Homo Arch, part of which is now the Al ‘Omariyyeh College
• The Citadel or Tower of David south of the Jaffa Gate
• Herod’s Palace which covered the Upper City
• The Palace of the Hasmoneans between Herod’s Palace and the Jewish Quarter

(Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:13-25, John 18:38-19:16)

Prison of the Thieves and Barabbas

 Barabbas