Russian Orthodox communities in Portugal to make a walking pilgrimage by the Way of St. James

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SOURCE:  Pravmir

Orthodox communities in Portugal will make this Camino de Santiago walking pilgrimage for the eleventh time. It will involve pilgrims not only from Portugal but also other countries. At present, the pilgrims group include believers from Spain, Russia and Ukraine.

This year, the walking pilgrimage will begin after the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated on July 15 at Portugal’s Valenca do Minho, with the participation of pilgrims groups from Lisbon and Port, Tomsk and Moscow (Russia), Nikolaev (Ukraine) and Soto Grande (Spain).

On their way to Santiago de Compostela, the Orthodox pilgrims will worship at the Divine Liturgy. At the destination point, the pilgrims will pray at a thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. James, the website of the diocese of Chersonese has reported.

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SOURCE:  JohnnyJet

 For centuries people from all over the world have been flocking here to enjoy this historic and holy city. Let's start with the basics: The Spanish word "Santiago" translates as "St. James," while "Compostela" comes from the Latin "campus stellae" which means "field of the stars" St. James the Great was one of Jesus' apostles (his brother was John). Legend has it that St James made his way to Galicia to preach Jesus' good word. Nine hundred years later his bones were found in what is now Lebanon, and supposedly brought to Santiago Compostela later that same century (9th). 

St. James was buried directly below where a shepherd spotted a star; later, a cathedral was built over that very spot (it opened in 1075). This city is regarded as the final resting place of St. James; his remains are believed to lie beneath the altar in the crypt of the cathedral.