317 km to Santiago de Compostela
Today was an uneventful day, the Camino goes through Leon and then continues by the side of a busy highway. We passed through La Virgen del Camino, Valverde and San Miguel and eventually we arrived to Villadangos del Paramo.
Today we saw more pilgrims go by. A couple of French girls, a Dane, and Spaniard. We were slow. My leg was acting up so I needed a more rests than other days.
We followed our pilgrim routine, find a place to stay. Rest a little while, go for lunch, the usual menu consists of two dishes and dessert, go back to our room, shower, wash clothes have a nap and then go and buy provisions for the next day.
Later we went to mass to the church of Santiago el Mayor, St James the Great, there is a picture of the altar and the retablo. At the centre is the image of Santiago Matamoros, St. James the Moor slayer.
It is said that after the moors invaded Spain in the VIII century, the Spanish christians were loosing battle after battle. In 844 king Ramirez of Castile, the day before a battle against a stronger moor army, dreamed that Santiago promised he would help. The next day was the battle of Clavijo, when the odds where turning in favour of the Moors, Santiago appeared on a white horse with a white standard and charged. The battle then turned in favour of the Christian army and they succesfuly defeated the Moors. That is the origin of the story of Santiago Matamoros.
Santiago, protect us and help us to complete this pilgrimage to your cathedral. Pray for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment