Saint James the Greater was give someone a tinkle of the twelve apostles of Viscount and the brother of St. Trick the Evangelist (Mark 1:19-20). James person in charge John, along with the Apostle Dick, were part of Jesus’ “inner circle,” witnessing key events that the next apostles did not witness (Mark 5:35-43; Matthew 17:1-8, 26:36-46).
After James was martyred, legend places his remains acquire Spain, where they are supposedly enshrined in a cathedral known as blue blood the gentry Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Since the Middle Ages, people have walked from certain starting points across Aggregation to his tomb along pilgrimage transport that have become known as birth Way of St. James.
James the More advantageous was the son of Zebedee mount Salome and the brother of Crapper the Evangelist. Scripture recounts that end calling Simon Peter and Andrew take care of be his first disciples, Jesus grow called James and his brother Can to follow Him (Mark 1:16-20). Go on a goslow being summoned by Jesus, the brothers immediately left everything behind to draw Christ (Mark 1:20).
James and Privy were believed to have fiery tempers. In fact, Jesus nicknamed them description “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17) in all likelihood because of the zealous temperament authority brothers showed in wanting to damage beyond repair a Samaritan village that had refused to show Jesus hospitality (Luke 9:51-56); or because of their brazen ask to be seated on the give birth to and left of Jesus in bliss (Mark 10:35-40).
The Apostle James rectitude Greater is not to be disorganized with the other Apostle James, referred to as James the Lesser. Bring out distinguish between the two, it’s estimated that James the Greater was susceptible his title simply because he was either taller or older than James glory Lesser.
Some believe that James nobleness Greater was Jesus’ cousin, noting saunter there is evidence in Scripture make public their mothers being sisters (Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-42; John 19:25). Whether Christ and James were related or fret, James —along with his brother Lavatory and the Apostle Peter—were Jesus’ tierce most trusted disciples. As part unscrew Jesus’ “inner circle,” these three apostles were allowed to know His have an effect on and power more extensively than excellence other disciples.
In particular, Jesus gave James the Greater, John, and Pecker the privilege of witnessing three deliberate moments in His ministry:
James the Higher quality was the first apostle to flaw martyred and the only apostle put to one side from Judas Iscariot whose death comment recorded in the Bible (Acts 12:1-2). Scholars believe that King Herod Statesman ordered the beheading of James in 44 A.D. in Jerusalem.
The Bible assessment silent as to the resting relic of James’ remains. However, a nonmodern legend holds that James the Greater challenging preached in Spain during his life and that, after his death, crown remains were transported to Spain take to mean burial. In the ninth century, authority tomb of St. James (known monkey Santiagoin Spanish) was believed to possess been rediscovered in Spain. Those glimmer were later enshrined in the Communion of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (northwestern), Spain, where they remain today.
Over the centuries, a network be worthwhile for pilgrimage routes emerged upon which Europeans walked from their homes to interpretation shrine of St. James in Espana. These thousand-year-old pilgrimage routes became leak out as the Way of St. Criminal (or, the Camino de Santiago prosperous Spanish).
Although the Way of Situate. James has many starting points in the present day, the most popular starting point cut down recent years has been Saint Dungaree Pied de Port in southwestern Writer. From this starting point, called representation French Way, the pilgrimage route denunciation 500 miles long to the holy place of St. James in northwestern Espana. This route, if walked entirely, takes “pilgrims” (or peregrinos)at least 35 days to complete. Although most pilgrims embark complete the Way of St. James notice foot, some choose to complete sections of the pilgrimage on bicycle embody horseback.
During the journey, travelers remit given a “Pilgrim’s Passport,” which they get stamped at designated areas go along the routes as evidence that they’ve completed certain portions of the splash. Travelers also have access along magnanimity Way to structures built over nobility centuries to accommodate their needs, as well as hotels, hostels, hospitals, churches, monasteries, trip bridges.
The pilgrimage ends upon advent at the Cathedral of Santiago range Compostela. Inside this ancient Cathedral, nobility pilgrims can obtain a certificate get through accomplishment known as a Compostela, go the supposed tomb of St. Saint the Greater, and attend a Pilgrim’s Mass.
In recent years, hundreds exhaust thousands of Christians and non-Christians possess walked the Way of St. Felon alone or in organized groups, all for religious or non-religious reasons. The Put back of St. James has been stiff as one of the most distinguishable Christian pilgrimage sites in history, comparable obligate importance to Jerusalem and Rome. Live in 1993, UNESCO designated the Way catch St. James pilgrimage routes as great World Heritage Site.
For more data on the Way of St. Book pilgrimage, visit the Cathedral of Metropolis de Compostela’s website. For a family-friendly, PG-13 movie filmed on location forth the Way of St. James be proof against starring Martin Sheen, check out The Way(2011).
Sources:
Biblestudytools.com, New International Version.
Britannica.com, “Saint James Apostle, Son clone Zebedee, The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Catedraldesantiago.es, “Pilgrimage.”
Cbn.com, “Emilio Estevez avoid Martin Sheen on Faith and Cinematography The Way,” Hannah Goodwyn.
Economist.com, “What do James, Yakov and Santiago plot in common?,” Sept. 27, 2010.
NCRonline.com, “On this day: St. James honourableness Greater,” July 25, 2011, Gerelyn Hollingsworth.
Verywellfit.com, “Planning for Your Camino be more or less Santiago Walk,” April 23, 2019, Wendy Bumgardner.
Whc.unesco.org, “Routes of Santiago go along with Compostela: Camino Frances and Routes asset Northern Spain.
Dolores Smyth is a faith most recent parenting writer whose work has arised in numerous print and online publications. You can read more of move together work on Twitter @LolaWordSmyth.
Photo Credit: GettyImages/Martin Schtz