CAMINO DE SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA(The Way of St. James)

The Way of St. James  is the pilgrimage route to the

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried.

During medieval times, it was one of the 3 great pilgrimages Christians made: 1. Rome 2. Jerusalem 3. Santiago de Compostela, Spain

It was believed that all ones’ sins were forgiven after making a pilgrimage.

Four roads through France bring pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

They take more than a month to walk the ENTIRE route.

Pilgrims have to cross the Pyrenees mountains

Saint James was one of the twelve apostles.After decapitation in Jerusalem, his disciples stole his body and managed to take him on the Galician coast.

Prado Museum

The tomb containing his remains would be discovered in the year 830 by Pelagius following a bright view.Bishop Teodomiro, warned of this prodigy, came to the place and found the remains of the Apostle. After this miraculous event the place was called campus stellae ("field of the star") from which derives the name of Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia.

813 C.E.

Saint James is always represented with a big walking

stick to his side.

It is thanks to it that the pilgrims managed to oppose to the brigands and to push back

the wild animals.

For this reason, this object became the main attribute of the pilgrims on their way to

Compostela.

Scallop shell

1) Ocean side miracles.2) Ancient souvenirs.

St. James the Pilgrim

SCALLOP SHELLThe scallop shell, often found on the shores in

Galicia, has long been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries the scallop shell has taken on mythical, metaphorical and practical meanings, even if its relevance may actually derive from the desire of pilgrims to take home a souvenir.

After James' death, his disciples shipped his body to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. Off the coast of Spain, a heavy storm hit the ship, and the body was lost to the ocean. After some time, however, it washed ashore undamaged, covered in scallops

Christianity was booming!

Churches were built all along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela

Saint Sernin, France

12th-13th c. France built 80 Cathedrals and 500 churches.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, (1075 – 1700s) 997 original building destroyed by Moors.

Pilgrims receive stamped record at Pilgrimage Office.

Buen camino