Apostolic activity of St. James the Apostle: leading to the formation of the Camino de Santiago

For pilgrims, 2021 is a Year of Saint James. This happens every few years (the last was in 2010 and the next will be in 2027), i.e. when July 25, the Day of St. James, is on Sunday. Pilgrims have been travelling to the tomb of St. James for centuries. The Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) to Santiago de Compostela in Spain became a special spiritual asset of European cultural heritage following the Declaration of the Camino de Santiago by the Council of Europe on 23 October 1987, and official branches of the way have been drawn across Europe. In order to actualise the pilgrimage along the Way of St. James, the features of the life of St. James the Greater and his activities which led to the rise and formation of the Camino de Santiago are discussed in this article. While the origins and development of the pilgrimage walk of St. James are presented, the article discusses the distinctiveness of St. James’s activities among the apostles. The paper reviews his apostolic activities after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ, it presents the history of his tomb and the beginning of his holy cult in Spain. Key Words: St. James the Apostle, the Way of St. James, the Camino de Santiago, pilgrim.