Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela by Dan Cotfas/Wiki Commons
Thought to be the burial grounds of Saint James the Great, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela takes its place as one of only three churches in the world known to hold the remains of an apostle of Jesus Christ. The other two are St Thomas Cathedral Basilica in India and St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Legend holds that the apostle James carried the gospel to the Iberian Peninsula. When the Romans beheaded him in 44 AD, his remains were respectfully transported to Galacia, Spain, where he had influenced so many lives with his preachings. But tragedy tolled its iron bell when the Roman Empire pursued Christians throughout Spain, and James’s tomb was left to the dust.
A miracle was recorded in 814, when the hermit Pelagius saw strange lights in the sky and was led to rediscover the tomb. King Alfonso II was convinced that this was a sign from heaven and had a chapel built over the grave.
Tragedy struck again when an invading army burned the church to the ground in 997 after looting it for valuable possessions. Amazingly, they left the tomb of James alone.
Construction on a new cathedral was started in 1075 and was modeled after Saint Sernin Cathedral in France. Today, the site once again brings in people from all over the world to pay their respects to one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
Legend holds that the apostle James carried the gospel to the Iberian Peninsula. When the Romans beheaded him in 44 AD, his remains were respectfully transported to Galacia, Spain, where he had influenced so many lives with his preachings. But tragedy tolled its iron bell when the Roman Empire pursued Christians throughout Spain, and James’s tomb was left to the dust.
A miracle was recorded in 814, when the hermit Pelagius saw strange lights in the sky and was led to rediscover the tomb. King Alfonso II was convinced that this was a sign from heaven and had a chapel built over the grave.
Tragedy struck again when an invading army burned the church to the ground in 997 after looting it for valuable possessions. Amazingly, they left the tomb of James alone.
Construction on a new cathedral was started in 1075 and was modeled after Saint Sernin Cathedral in France. Today, the site once again brings in people from all over the world to pay their respects to one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
