What is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, northwest Spain. All itineraries, with the exception of the Camino Finesterre-Muxia, end at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of James, son of Zebedee (Saint James), one of Jesus' closest disciples and companions, is located. For more than a thousand years, millions of pilgrims from all over the world have made the pilgrimage. Over the years, the pilgrims began their journey from various places throughout Spain and Europe, thus creating the Camino de Santiago. The Camino Francés is the most popular of all the routes.
The History Of The Camino
The beginning of the Camino journeys dates back to the 9th century, when the remains of St. James the Apostle were discovered near the town of Padrón in Galicia. After the discovery, the local bishop informed King Alfonso II of Asturias, who became the first pilgrim to visit St. James's tomb. A chapel was then erected on the site that would later become the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
drawing of st. james
St. James and the beginning of the Camino
St. James was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus to spread his gospel. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus, along with Peter and John, and he witnessed some of the most important events of early Christianity. He was also present at the Last Supper, the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. After Jesus' death, he continued his ministry and reached Galicia, where he preached the gospel. He then returned to Jerusalem, where he faced persecution until he died a martyr's death. He was the first apostle to die for his faith, around 44 AD. According to legend, his body was carried by two of his students on a stone boat with no oars or sails towards a town near Padrón in the Galician province in northwest Spain. St. James' death was a great loss to the early Church, but also a great testament to his courage and loyalty to Jesus. His work and legacy became the basis for new Christians, who followed in his footsteps and continued his work. St. James's tomb remained hidden and forgotten for several centuries, until the 9th century, when it was rediscovered by a local hermit. The discovery of the tomb was a great event for Christendom, especially for the Spanish kingdoms that declared Saint James (Spanish: Santiago) as the patron saint of Spain. In the 8th-9th centuries, the Spaniards faced the Moorish conquest and St. James was a symbol of many miracles and victories during this period. At the same time, news of the discovery of the tomb in Galicia spread throughout Europe and led other Christians to begin pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. Thus the Camino de Santiago was born.
Codex Calixtinus
A 12th-century manuscript containing various texts related to St. James and the pilgrimage to his grave in Santiago de Compostela. The Codex describes the route, artwork, useful advice and information, customs and miracles associated with the journey. It is considered to be the first guide written about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The original script is preserved in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
The development and growth of the Camino
The route, which became one of the most important pilgrimages of the Middle Ages, attracted people from all walks of life, from kings and popes to peasants and criminals, seeking forgiveness, miracles or a new beginning. Along the way, many towns and villages developed, needing the services of the many pilgrims. Many churches, monasteries, hospitals and infrastructure were built to provide help and support to pilgrims. After that, pilgrimages to Santiago experienced ups and downs but remained popular until the first decades of the 20th century. Subsequently, the Spanish Civil War and two world wars resulted in the complete abandonment of the Camino de Santiago. After the wars, the Camino began to return to the public consciousness and in 1982 Pope John Paul II arrived in Santiago after 10 days of pilgrimage and became the first pope to visit the tomb of Saint James. As a result, at the end of the 20th century, the popularity of the Camino increased significantly and was even declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Today, over 250,000 pilgrims from all over the world come to Santiago de Compostela each year after following the various Camino routes.