History of the Camino

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) is a walkway that has been traveled for more than 2000 years and has been a Christian route for nearly 1300 years. It is said that Santiago de Compostela is the burial place of the apostle, James the Greater. In the Christian world, Santiago is one of the three main sites for pilgimages along with Jerusalem and Rome.

When the apostles spread out across the known world to preach the gospel, tradition has it that James came to Galicia, Spain. In 44AD, he returned to Jerusalem, where he was beheaded by King Herod, becoming the first of the apostles to be martyred. St James' followers were said to have placed James' head and body in a ship to Galicia and his remains were buried inland. Years later, legend states that a hermit saw stars above a field ("compo" meaning field and "stela" meaning star) where St. James' bones were uncovered. A cathedral was built on this spot and today, below the altar in a crypt, a silver box is said to hold the remains of St. James.

The first pilgrimages began in the 9th century. By the 12th and 13th centuries, half a million pilgrims traveled across northern Spain each year. Along the way, hostels, bridges, hospitals, etc. were built to accommodate them. The Knights Templar patrolled the Camino, providing protection. With the coming of the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment, and wars, the Camino lost favor but was never abandoned. Today, once again, it is "alive" with pilgrims from all over the world who undertake this journey, not only for religious reasons, but for many other reasons as well. The Camino winds through mountains, vineyards, fields, small towns, and cities. Pilgrims follow yellow arrows and scallop shells, the symbols of the Camino.

There are several routes to Santiago. The one Gene and I are following is the French Route. We will start in St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Our first day will take us over the Pyrenees and into Spain. Approximately 500 miles later, our journey will end in Santiago de Compostela.

Posted by Susu, August 12, 2009