Pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle

The pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle is a Christian Pèlerinage , of which the goal is the tomb of the apostle in the crypt of the cathedral of the town of Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle in Galicia (Spain). Indeed, since the 9th century, the local Church claims to have the body (the Relique S) of Saint Jacques, Apôtre of the Christ, with the Cathédrale of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle. With the the Middle Ages, it counted among the three great pilgrimages of Christendom, with:

Origins

The Pèlerinage was born from discovered about the year 800 from the sepulchre from Saint Jacques, brother of Saint Jean the evangelist and first apostle Martyr of Christendom. The first writings mentioning the preaching of Jacques in Spain go back to VIIe century. They were taken again at the 12th century and incorporated in the Codex Calixtinus . Saint Jacques would have left the the Middle East with the Ier century with for mission of preaching the word of Christ in occident until in the Iberian peninsula. Returned in Palestine, it was decapitated on order of the king Hérode Agrippa. Collected by his/her companions, his skin was carried in a boat. Guided by an angel, the wherry crosses the Straits of Gibraltar before being failed on the coasts of Galicia.

Its tomb would have been found a few hundred years later, at the beginning of the 9th century, by the Ermite Pelayo (or Pelagius) which stated to have had a revelation in its sleep. He would have been guided by a star in the sky, from where one of the etymologies advanced for Compostelle: Campus Stellae or field of star.

Théodomire, bishop of Will go-Flavia (today Padrón), recognized this tomb as being that of Jacques Saint in 835 and the king Alphonse II of Asturies made there build a church. The year 1884 will have however to be awaited so that the pope Leon XIII officializes the recognition of the tomb of Jacques Saint by the Church.

History

See also: Pilgrim of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle

In 1121, full period of Crusade (of which first is launched in 1095 by the Pope Urbain II) and 3 years after the foundation of the Ordre of Templiers in 1118 with Jerusalem by the pope Pascal II to protect the Pèlerinage from Jerusalem, the pope Calixte II (whose brother Raymond of Burgundy is king of León and Galicia by marriage with Urraque Ire of Castille, girl of the king de Castille Alphonse VI of Castille) made Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle a Holy City of the same order as Jerusalem and Rome and makes build the Cathédrale of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle to recuellir there the Relique S Sacré are.

It causes the writing of the Codex Calixtinus to ensure the devotion the Apôtre Christ and ensures the promotion of the Pèlerinage of Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle in all the Europe.

During Xe and 11th century, the worship of Jacques Saint closely related in Spain to the Reconquista starts to be spread to become one of most important the Middle Ages.

Of the four corners of Europe, the pilgrims of Saint Jacques, whom one ends up calling " jacquets" , left their hearth and traced their road towards Galicia. For practical reasons, they ended up converging on precise ways and gathering places were constituted with Paris, Vézelay, the Puy-en-Velay and Arles. Four main roads are reflected in place under the impulse of the large abbeys with an assistance system with the pilgrims resting on old people's homes, vaults and stages. The kings de Navarre and of Leon improved on their side the roads and built bridges in order to facilitate the peregrinations.

A monk poitevin, Aimery Picaud, writes the last book incorporated in the '' Codex Calixtinus ''. It described there the four main roads in France, which amalgamate for three of them with Ostabat in the Yrénées-Atlantiques, then with Puente Reina in Spain, to form the Camino francés. It there details the stages but gives also information on the crossed areas and their populations. This Book was practically not known in Europe before its edition (in Latin) in 1882. It is Jeanne Vielliard who gave him the title of Guide of the pilgrim in her translation of 1938. Since he is considered, wrongly, like the ancestor of the guides of the contemporary pilgrims.

The pilgrimage did not remain about it less not sown obstacles and it was not rare that pilgrims perish before arriving at destination (that still arrives in 2007). The bad weather succeeded of the brigands called Coquillard S, quite happy to benefit from the aubaine which these good people representrepresented by détroussant them at the time of imaginary tolls, when was not quite simply to leave them for deaths.

The pilgrims had as a habit to pay then to see itself giving like testimony of their voyage of the shells of pecten S, which they fixed at their coat or their hat, from where the name of scallops given thereafter to these molluscs. The scallop was the sign at the conclusion of the voyage that it was a new man who returned to the country. It will become one of the recognizable attributes of the pilgrim, with the bumblebee, the double sack and the hat on broad board. The shell was even engraved in the stone on the pediment S or the capital X of the churches which were used as stage to the pilgrims.

The contemporary pilgrimage

Hundred thousand pilgrims towards Saint-Jacob were listed in Compostelle for the holy year 1999 and nearly two hundred and thousand in 2004. But these figures do not mean anything insofar as only those are entered which require to receive Compostela. They go to Saint-Jacques-with-Compostelle to foot or bicycle, sometimes with horse.

In addition, if he is traversed since the 9th century by Christians making stage in monasteries, the pilgrimage of Saint-Jacob also became a Randonnée celebrates, where the walkers cross the amateurs of Romanesque art.

A way of Compostelle well is identified in Spain, the Camino francés which was the transportation route of the North of Spain very attended after Reconquista to support the repopulation of the kingdoms of North. This way led to Compostelle but all those which borrowed it undoubtedly did not go until in Galicia. There is no equivalent in France. Ways of Saint-Jacob were traced by the FFRP (Federation of Hiking) starting from the beginning of the year 1970. The first specimen ronéoté of the topo-guide of the GR. 65 for the section Puy - Aubrac goes back to 1972. This way of Saint-Jacob became the GR. 65 paths of great excursion.

Subject to the presentation of a “notebook of pilgrim” (or credential ) delivered by the services of the pilgrimage of the Cathedral of Saint-Jacques-to-Compostelle, by associations or, in France by évêchés or the parishes, the pilgrims can make stage in lodgings and Monastère S marking out the course.

On arrival with destination, the pilgrims in possession of a credential obtain a certificate attesting that they carried out the pilgrimage well, the compostela , written in Latin if they traversed the last 100 kilometers with foot (or 200 in the bicycle). The pilgrim from Bern or Helsinki which stops, tired, with 120 kilometers of Santiago and finishes in the coach is not entitled to the compostela

Routes of the pilgrims

At all times, the pilgrims borrowed the transportation routes of all the other travellers. Except in the vicinity immediate of the Sanctuary S, there were no specific ways of pilgrimage. It is starting from 1882, with the edition of the last Book Codex Calixtinus that spread the concept of ways of pilgrimage. This Book starts indeed with these words: " Four ways go to Saint-Jacques". Very summarily described these ways are indicated by the names of cities which they cross. Like the whole of the manuscripts, they are in Latin. The practice was then taken to give names to Latin consonance with the contemporary ways. This can be justified when they follow old Roman ways. It is folk when they are contemporary creations. The Codex Calixtinus mentioned only ways in Spain and in what was large the Aquitaine 12th century. It is only after the definition of the ways of Compostelle as first Cultural Route European that ways were more or less arbitrarily traced to the borders of the Europe. Appeared in the enthusiasm of this European decision, acquired by Compostelle, a book their gave an existence. This European Guide of the ways of Compostelle is actually a guide for the contemporary travellers. It is of him that descriptions below for the European ways are inspired. They correspond to a vision contemporary, in conformity with the cultural projects and socio-economic of the institutions which again wish to promote the way of Saint Jacques de Compstelle.

France

In France, Since the end of the 19th century, the practice was taken to consider only the four ways shown in the Codex Calixtinus , translated in 1938 with the contemporary, non-existent title in the manuscript, of Guide of the pilgrim . But the study of the routes really followed by pilgrims who left writings does not make it possible to attach the importance to them which they acquired today. These four contemporary ways are:

  • the Via Podiensis (1530 km), which draws its name from the Puy-en-Velay; gathering place and place of pilgrimage marial; this way is marked out like “GR. 65”, as of Geneva; the way Geneva it Puy is called Via Gebennensis.
  • the Via Lemovicensis , which passes by Limoges, from where its name; the gathering place was with Vézelay.
  • the Via Turonensis (1460 km), which passes by Tours, and the gathering place was the church Saint-Jacques-of-the-Butchery with Paris (current the Tour Saint-Jacob) from where the pilgrims left Paris by the Saint-Jacob streets, of the Saint-Jacob Suburb and the Tombe Issoire.

These three ways meet in the Yrénées-Atlantiques with Ostabat, on the level of the “Carrefour of Gibraltar”. The latter does not owe anything with Tariq ibn Ziyad, it is simply a phonetic deformation of the sanctuary of Saint-Saver, on the hill. Chabaltore out of Basque, became Chibaltare , Chibraltare and finally Gibraltar . The crossing of the border is done by the Col of Roncevaux and the continuation of the way takes the name of Camino navarro.

  • the Via Tolosane , which passes by Toulouse, from where its name; but it was also called via Arletanensis , of the gathering place of the pilgrims, Arles. It had also like name via Eagidia , or road of Saint-Gilles, in honor with the family of the counts de Toulouse (the Saint-Gilles). This way joined Spain by the Col of Somport. But it was preceded by the Via Domitia - Way by Compostelle, which goes from the Col of Montgenèvre to Arles, also called the Via Francigena thus named by Italian since it passes to France. There was a parallel way, the Chemin of Piedmont or, which received the pilgrims of via Tolosane on the level of Narbonne. These ways joined Spain by the Camino aragones, thus named since it joined Aragon.

Camino navarro and camino aragones meet with Puente Reina, finishing the junction of the four French ways. The continuation of the way takes starting from there the name of Camino francés.

There exist also short cuts which make it possible to the pilgrims to go in places of pilgrimage, as that which goes from Conches to Toulouse, or even the Voie of Soulac.

Spain

In Spain the way takes the name of “Camino francés” since it is borrowed by the “Francos”, without reference to nationality. In Spain this way is also called the " ruta interior " in opposition to the " ruta of the costa " or " Camino del Norte ". Other ways cross the country at the beginning of Barcelona, Madrid or Seville.

Portugal

Lisbon is the starting point obliged of the way towards Saint-Jacques-of-compostelle, passing by Coïmbre, Oporto; but another way is located more at the east, which starts from Faro, in the extreme south of the country, and gains north by Evora, Castel Branco, and Guarda.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there exist three ways towards Saint-Jacques-in Compostelle. One starts from Groningen and the other of Haarlem. The cities crossed then are in the west Breda, Antwerp, Brussels, Valencian, Amiens and Paris, or in the east Maastricht, Liege, Namur, Rheims and Vézelay.

Denmark

It is starting from the XIIe century and XIIIe century that the pilgrimages towards Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle began. The crossed cities are Århus, Flensburg, Hamburg, Aachen, Namur, Rocroi, Paris.

For the pilgrims of north, the sign of recognition was not only the shell but also medals, very often with the effigy of Saint Léonard de Noblat, where this one holds the book of the Gospel. With its feet is insane or a connected prisoner (dating from the XIVe century).

Poland

In Poland, there existed three ways. One came from Cracow and joined Prague, while passing by Olomouc; the other started from Warsaw and joined Torun, Poznan, Leipzig, Coblenz. Finally the last, which persist, share of Gdansk and pass by Szczecin, Berlin, joined Magdeburg, Gottingen, Kassel, Marbourg, arrive at Luxembourg and Paris.

Croatia

The road of Croatia begins with Zagreb, passes by Ljubljana, Trieste, Venice and Parma and joined the road of Italy.

Hungary

In Hungary, there exist two ways. The first follows the road of North and in particular the loop of the the Danube: it starts from Budapest, Esztergom, Györ, Sopron, then Vienna, Lébény, Linz, Vöcklabruck, Salzburg, Munich, Ulm, Villingen-Schwenningen, Basle, Besancon,… the second, follows the road of the west, passes by Höszeg.

Italy

In Italy, there exist two ways. They leave both Bari. The first skirts the Adriatic Sea, while passing by the towns of Pescara, Ancône, Rimini, Forli, then Bologna, Modena, Parma, Plaisance, Turin, Briançon. The second goes along the Tyrrhenian Sea, while passing by Naples, the Cassin Mount, Rome, Viterbe, His, Lucques, Spezia, Genoa, Menton, Nice…

England

In Cornouailles, the way towards Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle begins with Saint Michael' S Mount, island romantic and mysterious par excellence. The pilgrims crossed the Manche and passed by the Mount-Saint-Michel, before carrying on their road by Angers, Poitiers…

UNESCO

The camino francés of Spain was registered with the world heritage of UNESCO in 1993.

Under the title “the ways of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle in France”, 70 buildings and 7 sections of way were registered as for them with the world heritage of UNESCO the December 5th 1998. It is thus false to make believe that “the ways of Compostelle in France” are registered with the world heritage. The situation of France is not comparable with that of Spain.

Crossed cities and monuments

According to their wishes and their possibilities, the pilgrims adapted their route to go to request holy bodies, without always following the most direct routes.

Conches in Toulouse

  • Aubin, where the pilgrims found a hospital and two churches, the church of Gua and the church Notre-Dame d' Aubin.

  • Villeneuve of Aveyron, the church Saint-Saver and his frescos representing holy Jacques pilgrim
  • Villefranche-with-Rouergue, collegial Notre-Dame, old chartreuse the Saint-Saver, the vault of the Penitent-Blacks and the hospital Saint-Jacob
  • Najac, the Gothic church Midsummer's Day
  • Laguépie
  • Cord-on-Sky
  • Gaillac, the abbey church Saint-Michel and the church Saint-Pierre
  • Lisle-on-Tarn
  • Rabastens, the Notre-Dame church of the Borough of Rabastens and its frescos, which illustrate various episodes of the life, real or legendary, of Jacques the Major one.
  • Saint-Sulpice, the church which is an old vault Saint-Jacob
  • Montastruc-the-Adviser
  • Castelmaurou, which would mean the " manor house of Maures".
  • the Union

From there pilgrims joined it via Tolosane in Toulouse.

Other places for a Auvergnat way

An alternative of via Lemovicensis left Nevers in direction of Clermont.

The pilgrims could thus join it via Podiensis or it via Tolosane, according to the places of pilgrimage which they wanted to honor.

Walking on along Combining it, the jacquets were accommodated by the Benedictines of the abbey of Souvigny, which was one of the five “girls” of the Ordre of Cluny.

  • Souvigny, priory celebrates of Bourbonnais rested by the monks of Cluny.

  • Anzy-the-Duke, priory dependant on Saint Martin's day of Autun.
  • Ébreuil, the church Leger Saint.
  • Clermont-Ferrand: the Notre-Dame church of the Port
  • Orcival, the basilica Notre Dame
  • Saint-Nectary-the-High, the church Saint-Nectaire cheese, and its cheeses.
  • Saint-Floret
  • Issoire, abbey the Austremoine saint.
  • Saint-Saturnin, his monastery of Benedictines.
  • Brioude, the Saint-Julien basilica.
  • Lavaudieu, whose name means the valley of God, and the Saint-Andrew church, from there they could also join it via Podiensis at the Puy-en-Velay.
  • Saint-Flour, the cathedral Saint Pierre.
  • Murat-le-Quaire, the church Our-Lady-of-Olive-trees
  • Aurillac, the abbey of Aurillac, the church Géraud Saint, and the church Our-Lady-with-Snows without forgetting Gerbert d' Aurillac, (938 - 1003), first French pope.
  • Souillac, the Sainte-Marie church, old abbey Romance with cupolas
  • Collonges-the-Red, the church Saint-Pierre
  • Aubazine, the abbey Saint-Etienne
  • the Beaulieu-on-Dordogne, abbey the Saint-Pierre
  • Rocamadour, the church Saint-Saver and the crypt Saint-Amadour
  • Dome, the “acropolis of Périgord” and the house of the Governor
  • Bonaguil, and its castle of Bonaguil.
  • Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the church Holy-Catherine
  • Agen, the cathedral Saint-Caprais
  • Nérac, the castle of Henri IV, and the church Saint Nicolas
  • Andiran, the castle of Hordosse.

From there they could join it via Podiensis with Condom.

Some sites registered on the List of the world heritage of UNESCO under the good “ways of Saint-Jacob de Compostelle” in France

See too

Random links:Taste of saké | The Invasion of the profaners of burials | Lignan-on-Orb | Five Nations tournament 1957 | International airport Ministro Victor Konder | Washington_Post