Way of the Cross Walk

The Good Friday Way of the Cross will be held as a public event in 2024.

SCROLL DOWN for more details of where and when, a map, and a link to the liturgy.

You may also do the walk in your own time at any time of the year as a private meditation, using the liturgy and map of the route available below.

The full walk takes a little over 2 hours; there are some steep inclines. You may join and leave the walk at any time.

MCCIA prepared a video in 2020 during the Covid-19 restrictions to support all in lockdown. This resource is still available below for all who are unable to do the physical walk.

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Guided Way of the Cross (2017)

In 2017, Dr U-Wen Lo and students of Harvest Bible College prepared a video of Melbourne’s Way of the Cross. MCCIA thanks Dr Uwen Lo, Dr Brendan Roach and Axx for making this video available.

The arrangements for Good Friday Way of the Cross this year are provided here.

The full Easter liturgy and MAP of the route are available below.

Easter

You are invited to walk the annual Way of the Cross, an ecumenical Easter devotion.

  • Good Friday at 10.00 am.
  • Easter Sunday at 6.30 am.

Good Friday: The Way of the Cross begins at St Francis’ Church, 326 Lonsdale Street (corner Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets), Melbourne (Melbourne’s oldest church) at 10am. From there it moves from church to church around the city in commemoration of Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper to the crucifixion and resurrection. All are welcome to join in for the whole or any part of the Way.

The journey usually takes up to 2 ½ hours, and will end around 12:15pm, at St Paul’s Cathedral, corner Swanston and Flinders Streets.

What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Limited supplies of water are available. An emergency first-aid medic attends, and Victoria Police provide support. Copies of the liturgy are provided, but if you can bring your own copy (download from the Publications menu tab), it would be appreciated.

Easter Sunday: The Easter Sunday pilgrimage — ‘from death to life’ — begins at dawn (6:30am) at St Paul’s Cathedral, and then crosses over the Yarra River to conclude at St Johns Southgate (20 City Road, Southbank).

Good Friday
  • Stations 1 and 2: St Francis Church, Lonsdale Street (10am)
  • Station 3: CrossCulture Church of Christ, Swanston Street (approx. 10:20am)
  • Station 4: Wesley Uniting Church, Lonsdale Street (approx. 10:40am)
  • Station 5: St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill (approx. 11am)
  • Stations 6 and 7: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Gisborne/Albert Streets (approx. 11:15am)
  • Station 8: German Trinity Lutheran Church, Parliament Place (approx. 11:30am)
  • Station 9: St Michael’s Uniting Church, Collins Street (Russell Street) (approx. 11:45am)
  • Station 10: Scots Church, Collins Street (approx. 11:55am)
  • Station 11: Collins Street Baptist Church, Collins Street (approx. 12pm)[then via Westin Hotel laneway to Flinders Lane, then into Swanston Street]
  • Stations 12, 13: St Paul’s Cathedral, Swanston Street and Flinders Street (approx. 12:15pm)

All timings are very approximate and vary according to weather, number of walkers and other factors.
The route and times are also subject to Victoria Police safety advice on the day. We thank Melbourne City Council, Yarra Trams, TransDev buses and PTV for their assistance.

Easter Sunday
  • Station 14: Meet at the 13th station, St Paul’s (Anglican) Cathedral, Flinders Street carpark, beside tree at 6:30am; cross Princes Bridge, and conclude at Station 14, St Johns Southgate (Lutheran), Southbank, 6:50am. You are then free to leave; you are also warmly invited to join St Johns 7am Easter Day service with a celebration morning tea to follow and an opportunity to meet fellow pilgrims.

Media Coverage

2017 Way of the Cross — Media coverage: The Age.

If you would like to share your photos of the Way of the Cross, please email them to the MCCIA Secretary: secretary@mccia.org.au

Media enquiries: Please contact the MCCIA Secretary: secretary@mccia.org.au

About the Way of the Cross

Melbourne’s ecumenical walk through the streets of the city on Good Friday was begun in 1998 by collaborating clergy of Melbourne’s inner city churches. Originally bringing together the congregations of the city’s denominations, the walk now attracts around 4,000 participants from wider Melbourne and beyond. All are welcome. The route is marked by a series of 14 bronze bas-relief sculptures by Melbourne artist Anna Meszaros.

From the Way of the Cross booklet:

One spring morning, Jesus carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem, a city to which he had come in the past as both a festive pilgrim and a man of tears. Through the city and beyond it, to a hill outside its holy walls, he journeyed for the unholy deed of crucifixion, he died, and was buried. Three days later, in a green and growing place, the Living One left the place of death.

In the streets of our city we will gather, in the spirit of Jesus, to remember that painful journey on the day that we now call ‘Good’. We come to pray for our city, ourselves, and our world, remembering that no pain is wasted, no affliction unredeemed that is united with the suffering of Jesus, who said to his disciples: ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

We invite you to join the journey.