July 25th is the Feast of Saint James (or Día de Santiago in Spain); commemorating the day of his martyrdom in 44 AD.
Because July 25th falls on a Sunday, this year is a Holy Year (or Año Xacobeo in Spanish) on the Camino de Santiago.
This means that the Door of Forgiveness at the Cathedral is open and Catholic pilgrims are granted plenary indulgence. And because of the pandemic, for the first time in Camino history, the Holy Year has been extended to December 2022. This year, although the festivities in town have not been cancelled, they will continue to be low-key.
Featured below, the Apostle James the Greater by Murillo; easily identified by his pilgrim’s staff and the cockle shell on his breast.
Happy Día de Santiago and Buen Camino!
