Explore each Station through a prayer, a reading and imagery
First Station
Pilate condemns Jesus to die
Second Station
Jesus accepts his cross
Third Station
Jesus falls for the first time
Fourth Station
Jesus meets his mother, Mary
Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross
Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Seventh Station
Jesus falls for the second time
Eighth Station
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Ninth Station
Jesus falls for the third time
Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of his clothes
Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the cross
Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken down from the cross
Fourteenth Station
Jesus is placed in the tomb
The Story of our Stations
The Stations of the Cross at St. Michael and All Angels are among the
many beautiful furnishings introduced during the ministry of the Rev.
J. E. Hardy, who served as Vicar from 1933 to 1945. Though their maker
is unknown, they are believed to have come from England as finished
works, likely gifted by friends and supporters in the United Kingdom.
Set within wooden frames and modelled in plaster of Paris, the
Stations reflect Fr. Hardy’s deep devotion and his remarkable eye for
beauty in worship. More recently, they were carefully refurbished by
specialist conservators from Peradeniya, helping to preserve them for
future generations. Together, they remain a treasured part of the
church’s sacred life, inviting prayer, reflection, and wonder.
SERVICE OF DEVOTION
Stations during Lent
Pray the Stations of the Cross with us during Lent
During the season of Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross in Sinhala,
English and Tamil. Details of these services are published on our
website prior to Ash Wednesday. We pray them for 5 weeks ending the
week before Holy Week.
Copyright St. Michael and All Angels, Polwatte 2026
First Station
Pilate condemns Jesus to die
Reading
Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the
man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify
him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they
shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy
the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he
handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 15.14-15
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were condemned to death for political profit: be
with those who are imprisoned for the convenience of the powerful.
You were the victim of unbridled injustice: change the minds and
motivations of oppressors and exploiters to your way of peace. To
you, Jesus, innocent though condemned, be honour and glory with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
So the soldiers took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he
went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew
is called Golgotha.
John 19.16-17
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you carried the cross through the rough streets of
Jerusalem: be with those who are loaded with burdens beyond their
strength. You bore the weight of our sins when you carried the
cross: help us to realize the extent and the cost of your love for
us. To you, Jesus, bearing a cross not your own, be honour and glory
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we
accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he
was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon
him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are
healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to
our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He
was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that
before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53.4-7
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach us your humility today. Remind us that you chose
to take up the cross, a symbol of humiliation and suffering, and did
so with steadfast acceptance. Be with those who fear humiliation and
run from suffering. Through your example, may our weaknesses make us
stronger, more accepting of the weaknesses of others, and
increasingly humble. To you, Jesus, unjustly judged victim, be
honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever. Amen.
Reading
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing
beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then
he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour
the disciple took her into his own home.
John 19.26–27
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your mother and your dearest friend stayed with you to
the bitter end, yet even while racked with pain you ministered to
them: be with all broken families today and care for those who long
for companionship. You cared for your loved ones even in your
death-throes: give us a love for one another that is stronger even
than the fear of death. To you, Jesus, loving in the face of death,
be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever. Amen.
Reading
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to
carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and
Rufus.
Mark 15.21
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were worn down by fatigue: be with those from whom
life drains all energy. You needed the help of a passing stranger:
give us the humility to receive aid from others. To you, Jesus,
weighed down with exhaustion and in need of help, be honour and
glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw
you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to
drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,
or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick
or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly
I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are
members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25.37-40
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as you approached your impending death you experienced
the kindness and friendship of strangers: be with those who know no
friends and are rejected by society. Help us to understand the
importance of love and kindness in helping others: to understand the
anxieties of those who fear for their future. To you, Jesus, who
helps us when we need you most, be honour and glory with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about
mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in
my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of
heart.
Psalm 38.6-8
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you faced the torment of barbaric punishment and mocking
tongue: be with those who cry out in physical agony and emotional
distress. You endured unbearable abuse: be with those who face
torture and mockery in our world today. To you, Jesus, the King
crowned with thorns, be honour and glory with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
A great number of the people followed Jesus, and among them were
women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus
turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for
me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are
surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the
wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they
will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the
hills,“Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what
will happen when it is dry?’
Luke 23.27-31
Prayer
Lord Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept for you: move us to tears at
the plight of the broken in our world. We thank you for the hope you
embodied and shared with your heartbroken followers, even on the way
to the cross. Keep us mindful—and ready communicators—of your
promises. To you, Jesus, the King of peace who wept for the city of
peace, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever. Amen.
Reading
A reading from the Book of Psalms I am poured out like water, and
all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted
within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my
tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
Psalm 22.14-15
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you show us that weakness, failings, and death can be
transformed into the glory of self-gift. Give us eyes of faith.
Allow us to see light where there appears only darkness, and life
where we can only sense death. When our energy flags, inspire in us
the confidence to get up, and continue our journey toward home. To
you, Jesus, our strength, and our redeemer, be honour and glory with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and
divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took
his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the
top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots
for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the
scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for
my clothing they cast lots.”
John 19.23-24
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you endured the ultimate humiliation of having your
clothes stripped off you: be with all those who face humiliation for
unjust causes, transform through the mystery of your love the pain
of those who suffer. To you, Jesus, our crucified Lord, be honour
and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified
Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his
left.
Luke 23.33
Prayer
Lord Jesus, even in your deepest agony you listened to the crucified
thief: hear us as we unburden to you our deepest fears. You spoke
words of love in your hour of death: help us to speak words of life
to a dying world. To you, Jesus, who offer hope to the hopeless, be
honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever. Amen.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you endured the ultimate humiliation of having your
clothes stripped off you: be with all those who face humiliation for
unjust causes, transform through the mystery of your love the pain
of those who suffer. To you, Jesus, our crucified Lord, be honour
and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading
At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi,
lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge
with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink,
saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him
down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
Mark 15.34-37
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you died on the cross and entered the bleakest of all
circumstances: give courage to those who die at the hands of others.
In death you entered into the darkest place of all: illumine our
darkness with your glorious presence. To you, Jesus, your lifeless
body hanging on the tree of shame, be honour and glory with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of
Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked
Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him
permission; so he came and removed his body.
John 19.38
Prayer
It is finished, Lord Jesus. Be with all those whose hearts over flow
with grief as a result of parting from loved ones. Comfort them in
their sorrow and give them your peace. To you, Jesus, our departed
friend, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever. Amen.
Reading
At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in
the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because
it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby,
they laid Jesus there.
John 19.41-42
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Lord of life, you became as nothing for us: be with
those who feel worthless and as nothing in the world’s eyes. You
were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight: be with all
who suffer and die in secret, hidden from the eyes of the world. To
you, Jesus, your rigid body imprisoned in a tomb, be honour and
glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
