Saint James the Greater: Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

 

Life and Martyrdom

• c. 1 AD – 30 AD: James, son of Zebedee, was a fisherman and one of Jesus’ inner circle, witnessing events like the Transfiguration.
• 30–44 AD: After Jesus’ death, James preached in Judea. Acts 12:2 records his martyrdom by beheading under Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem, the first apostle to die (c. 44 AD).
• Post-44 AD: A 9th-century legend claims his body was taken by boat to Galicia, Spain, where he had evangelized, and buried in a field.

Burial and Tomb Development

• c. 44–813 AD: The tomb remained obscure until 813 AD, when a hermit named Pelayo reportedly saw a star guiding him to the site, prompting Bishop Theodomir to identify it as James’ resting place.
• 9th–11th Centuries: A small church was built, evolving into the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral as pilgrimage (Camino de Santiago) grew.
• 1075–present: The current Romanesque cathedral, begun in 1075, houses a crypt with a silver reliquary believed to contain James’ bones, though no contemporary evidence confirms the transfer from Jerusalem.

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Apostles Tomb

• Saint Bartholomew: Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola
• Saint Philip: Hierapolis
• Saint John: Basilica of St. John
• Saint Andrew: Cathedral of Saint Andrew
• Saint Peter: St. Peter’s Basilica