Šv. apaštalo Jokūbo Vyresniojo hagiografiniai bruožai, padarę įtaką "Camino de Santiago" formavimuisi

LTŠv. Jokūbo kelias (Camino de Santiago) į Santiago de Kompostela miestą Ispanijoje yra tapęs ypatingu Europos kultūriniu paveldu ir dvasiniu turtu. 1987 m. spalio 23 d. Europos Tarybai paskelbus deklaraciją Camino de Santiago, kelio atšakos nubrėžtos per visą Europą, kartu ir per Lietuvą. Šiame straipsnyje, siekiant aktualizuoti piligrimystę Šv. Jokūbo keliu, aptariami šv. apaštalo Jokūbo Vyresniojo hagiografiniai bruožai, lėmę Camino de Santiago kilimą ir formavimąsi. Pristatant šv. Jokūbo piligrimų kelio ištakas ir raidą aptariamas šv. apaštalo Jokūbo veiklos išskirtinumas tarp apaštalų, apžvelgiama šv. apaštalo Jokūbo veikla po Jėzaus Kristaus Prisikėlimo ir Dangun žengimo, pristatoma šv. Jokūbo kapo istorija ir šventojo kulto formavimasis Ispanijoje. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) leading to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain has become an extraordinary feature of European cultural heritage and spiritual wealth. The way has a special significance in the formation and establishment of European identity. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After the proclamation of declaration Camino de Santiago by the Council of Europe on 23 October, 1987, branches of the way were drawn throughout Europe, including Lithuania. In Lithuania, however, establishment and promotion of the routes of the Lithuanian Camino de Santiago started as late as the second decade of the 21sl century. This article briefly presents the sources and development of the Way of St. James. James the Greater, the son of Zebedee, was among the apostles one of the most significant and closest Jesus’ disciples. He was among the first selected by Jesus. Apostle James together with Apostle Peter and Apostle John was present at the major events of Jesus’ life: raising of the daughter of a ruler of a synagogue Jairus; the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, revealing the apocalyptic prophesy, including the destruction of Jerusalem, future disasters and wars; night vigilance on the Mount of Olives before Jesus’ arrest, suffering and death. After Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension, Apostle James preached in Judea and Samaria. Later, around 39 AD, he travelled to Spain to proclaim the teaching of Jesus Christ. Though shortly, around 40 AD, he returned to Judea to proclaim the Evangel. In 44 AD he was the first of the apostles to be decapitated. Description of the death of Apostle James is the only of all the apostles in the New Testament, as though constituting the significance of this personality for the first community of Christians in Jerusalem.According to tradition, Theodore and Athanasius, two disciples of Apostle James, in fear of persecution and in faith of the divine providence, took the body of the killed apostle and boarded a ship which landed in Iria Flavia port of Galicia. Thus, after this extraordinary journey the body of Apostle James reached the place of the present city of Santiago de Compostela and was buried there. In the beginning of the 8,h century, Islamic forces conquered Northern Africa, the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and most of Spain. Christian groups, residing in the mountainous areas of Northern Spain, started an armed resistance against Muslims. During a persistent fight against Muslims on Mount Pedroso in Galicia in the north west of Spain, they receive a vision of pervasive light, which was understood as directing to the grave of Saint James the Apostle. The vision was interpreted as God’s sign to liberate Spain. In 834, during the battle of Clavijo, St. James the Apostle appeared mounted on a white horse, holding a flag with a sign of cross and led the Christians into the fight against the Muslims. Spain was gradually liberated from the Muslim influence and Santiago de Compostela became the place of pilgrimage, because pilgrimage to Jerusalem was dangerous due to Muslim conquest. The pilgrim way of St. James or Camino de Santiago is a way for pilgrims to travel to the city of Santiago de Compostela, where Saint James the Apostle is buried. Even in the early Medieval Ages the Way of St. James became an equivalent of faith and pilgrimage. Allegorically it is possible to say that the whole of Europe, including Lithuania, is marked by branches of the Way that lead towards the grave of Saint James the Apostle. Pilgrims follow Camino de Santiago inspired by the example of St. James’ blessed life and actions. [From the publication]