Background
A Pilgrimage journey is one of the most critical spiritual journeys that any believer would want to undertake at least once. Such journeys are highly sacred as they enable believers to develop their spiritual resilience and beliefs. Through such journeys, individuals could spiritually rejuvenate themselves and create a strong connection to the religious teachings they have been learning and practicing their entire lives. To Christians, the journey to Santiago was one of the most interesting journeys as believers were able to cultivate their religious teachings and enhance their spirituality as they visited different sacred places along the journey. Through the journey, Christians can enhance their faith in Christ as they remember the journey of Saint James from Paris to Santiago, where the saint’s remains are buried. This case study will outline the walking journey from Paris to the cathedral of Santiago, which will be the final destination. As I journey on the road to the Santiago pilgrimage, I will visit different churches with relics as I learn about the importance of the relics to the Christians and how they relate to them. In the process, I will also capture images of the various relics in the churches on the way.
Cluny Abbey
This cathedral is one of the significant stops along the road to the Santiago pilgrimage. The structure is located Saone-et-Loire in France. The building was one of the most powerful religious centers in the middle ages and was a critical structure linked to western monasticism. The structure was built in the 10th century and was the world’s largest church before the development of St. Peter’s basilica in Rome (Peters, 2019). I learned that the abbey was founded on land donated by William I, the duke of Aquitaine, to develop a Benedictine monastery. After donating the land, William I gave all the powers of the management of the abbey to the abbots before it was dedicated to St. Peter.
Saint-Pierre, Moissac
This structure is located at Tam-et-Garonne in southwestern France. Historical records show that Saint Didier, bishop of Cahors, established the Moissac. The Moissac is perceived to be home to the remains of St. James, making the church one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Western Europe (Brumec, 2022). The structure of the Moissac of Saint Pierre is perceived to have significant meaning to Christians. The tympanum of a saint –Pierre ‘south of the portal, is perceived to depict the return of Christ to earth at the end of time (Peters, 2019). The portal is considered to represent the vision of St. John, which is outlined in the book of revelation.
Cathedral of St. Lazare, Autun
This structure is also referred to as the cathedral of saint Lazarus of Autun. The cathedral has a significant impact on Christians as it is considered the seat of the Bishop of Autun. The structure was completed in 1146 and displayed Romanesque art and architecture. The sculptures in the church are considered to integrate biblical iconography linked to the old and new testaments. Such art is perceived to provide a good citing for pilgrimage as they walked to the cathedral of Santiago.
Santiago Cathedral
The cathedral is the final destination for the pilgrims who visit the church for its rich Christian heritage. The cathedral of Santiago is perceived as the resting place of Saint James the Great, an apostle of Jesus Christ. The cathedral of Santiago is perceived to be developed in 811 in Spain. The site is the final destination for the various routes used by the pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago. The destination is perceived as critical to the Christian believers as it is believed to be the tomb of St. James as the city is perceived to hold his relics before he was executed for his faith (Seryczyńska & Duda, 2021). The structure is one of the important religious structures in Spain, and it marks the end of the 490 miles that make up the Camino Santiago pilgrimage path. Historical information about the pilgrimage state shows that pilgrimages walked the route to reduce punishment for their sins. The pilgrimage is considered a Christian tradition where a pilgrim would walk from the front doorstep towards the cathedral of Santiago, which is perceived as the tomb of St. James, who is responsible for bringing Christianity to Spain (Seryczyńska & Duda, 2021). Despite the Camino being traditionally perceived as a pilgrimage for many years, most people in the modern days visit the areas to experience the rich culture and history of trails. My experience on the Camino enabled me to learn about the various reasons why individuals undertook the pilgrimage route to the cathedral of Santiago. Some people visited the area as a tourist to view the historic structure along the path, while others took it as a fitness challenge (Brumec, 2022). Individuals believed walking through the path would enable them to lose weight as they enjoyed the scenery along the way (Seryczyńska & Duda, 2021). Observing the various relics in the cathedral provided critical information about how technology has developed over the years through the difference in structures used and the ones used in the modern world. Learning about the history of St. James provides evidence that Christianity was real, and the beliefs maintained about the apostles of Jesus gained some evidence. In addition, the site provides a beautiful site for touring as it enables an individual to enjoy the signing and learn different things about the journey of faith and the various beliefs maintained in the middle ages.