Apostolic History and Tradition
The discovery of the tomb of the Apostle, which took place around the second or third decade in the 9th century, was the logical end of an oral and written tradition that, after Jesus’... read more

Beginning and Boom of the Pilgrimages
Wave after wave of pilgrims soon appeared. All of Christendom wanted to visit the Apostle’s tomb, especially after the Turkish invasions that interrupted the pilgrimage to Jerusalem just... read more

Heading to the Holy City
 There were numerous motives for undertaking the pilgrimage. Pope Callistus, in 1122, during the diffusion of the Gregorian reforms, instituted the Holy Year whenever the feast of St. James... read more

When is holy year?
Compostela enjoys a singular privilege that was first granted around the year 1122. It is mentioned in another papal bull of 1179, which still exists: Pope Alexander III’s Regis aeterni,... read more