Camino de Santiago – The most famous European pilgrimage route, in the old days began in Latvia or even Estonia and led through Poland, Germany and France, to the west, to Santiago de Compostela in western Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great (also known as Saint James the Elder), are buried.
For medieval Europeans there were three places, which were, God willing, worth of visiting: Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Rome, and situated “at the back of beyond” sepulcher of St. James.
It was like that, because “at the back of beyond” in one of the westernmost points of European continent, in Santiago de Compostela (which can be translated as Saint James of the Field of the Star) the grave of John the Evangelist – brother of Saint James (the first bishop of Jerusalem and the first apostle who died a martyr) was found.
Those who came back home were telling a lot of stories about this incredible place and the road itself. They were also bringing a rare kind of shell which was called “shells of Saint James”. Gradually the motif of the shell became a symbol of pilgrimage and roaming from home to home. At preset the shell performs the same role in the Benedict XVI’s emblem of papacy.
Saint James became not only a saint patron of pilgrims, roamers and travelers, but also the patron of Spain and one of the symbols of uniting Europe. That is why the Routes of Saint James are not only for those who seek solitude and silence to pray or think about their lives, but also for those who want to meet new people or visit interesting places. They are for all, irrespective of faith.
By the Council of Europe the Way of Saint James was declared European heritage.
Apart from Spain, Camino Roads (which were very common in the medieval times) are nowadays in Portugal (Camino Portuges), France (Camino Frances) and in Germany (Jakobswege)
- Source:
- The Way of Saint James Gniezno – Zgorzelec- Praga – Fundacja Wioski Franciszkańskiej (Franciscan Village Foundation)
Saint James’ Way – Włodzimierz Antkowiak
Saint James’ Way – Olsztyn -Toruń - edited by Town Council of Olsztyn
The part of Saint James’ Way in Olsztyn
Part Olsztyn - Toruń
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