Brief History of Santiago, the Camino, and Finisterre

The name "Santiago" comes from joining the (Latin?) words Sant Iago, which mean Saint James. St. James was one of Jesus' disciples, and also his brother. After Jesus' crucifixion, Santiago is believed to have traveled to Iberia, present-day Spain and Portugal, to preach Jesus' message. He returned to Jerusalem around 40 A.D. and was beheaded by the Romans. Legend says that his followers returned his body to what is now Padron, Spain, on a ship made of stone and buried it in a grave nearby. The grave was lost for 800 years when it was "discovered" and in 813 A.D. "confirmed" by Teodomiro, the local bishop.

A cathedral was started to provide a suitable resting place for Santiago's remains in what is now the town, Santiago de Compestela, Spain. Christians from all over Europe began traveling to this place and throughout the Middle Ages to be near the saint or to seek absolution for a particular sin. It was one of the three most important pilgrimage destinations, along with Rome and Jerusalem.

In an ugly chapter of Santiago's story, he appeared in a dream to King Ramirez of Castile in 844 A.D., and promised him a victory the following day in a battle against the Muslims who controlled Iberia. During the battle, he was said to have appeared on the field, riding a big white horse, swinging a sword, and decapitating Moors. He became known as Santiago Matamoros, the St. James the Moorslayer, and was used by the Roman church for the next 700 years as a battle recruitment symbol for the Iberian reconquista and for the Crusades.

Today, there are several Caminos (roads) to Santiago de Compestela. The most well known and most traveled is the French Way, from St. Jean, France. The Portuguese Camino, from Porto, carries only 2% of the total pilgrims to Santiago, and is truly a "road less traveled".

Finisterre is a town on the tip a peninsula in far north-west Spain. The ancients (pre-Christian Druids, Celts, as well as more modern Christians) believed to be the "end of the world". Its name comes from Latin "finis terre" -- end of land. They (incorrectly) believed it was the most westerly point of Europe. Just beyond this point the sun was daily swallowed up by the darkness. This place was as close to heaven as a live person could get. They built altars and other religious structures throughout this holy place. Romans traveled to Finisterre to retire so they could be nearer to god and heaven.