Apostolo Santiago Medal w/ Reliquary Particula de la Puerta Santa (Particles from the Holy Door) Silvertone. 1/2" dia.
James the
Great also known as James,
son of Zebedee and Saint James
the Greater, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. James is described as
one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that James
and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to
follow him. He is styled "the Greater", to distinguish him from the
Apostle James "the Less", with greater meaning older or taller,
rather than more important. He was the brother of John the Apostle. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain
and, according to tradition, his remains are held in Galicia.
The Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago is also called the “forgiveness door”. This door only opens during the “Holy Years” in which
July 25th (the feast of St James) falls on a Sunday.On the afternoon of
each New Year’s Eve before the beginning of a “Holy Year”, the “Holy Door” is
unlocked: The Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela approaches the Door and
knocks three times with a silver hammer, asking permission to the Apostle
Santiago to enter. After he enters, a stone wall placed exclusively for this
ceremony is knocked down by the hammer blow and the lintel of the door is
blessed with an olive branch. The Archbishop is the first person to cross the
Door and enter the Cathedral on that “Holy Year”. The “Holy Year” is thus
inaugurated and the “Holy Door” of the Cathedral is ready to welcome all the
faithful and sinners who want to be forgiven by the LordB5