St. James (Santiago)

Known as James the Greater (older) was one of the first of the 12 apostles who followed Christ. He and his Brother John were nicknamed the Sons of Thunder by Jesus because of their fiery tempers. 

He was also one of 3 apostles chosen by Jesus to bear witness to the Transfiguration. James was the first disciple to be martyred for being a “Christian.”

Herod the king executed James by the sword in 44 A.D. 

About the Cross of Saint James (Santiago)

In heraldry, the Cross of Saint James, also called the Santiago cross or the cruz espada,[1] is a charge in the form of a cross. It combines a cross fitchy (the lower limb is pointed, as if to be driven into the ground) with either a cross fleury[2] (the arms end in fleurs-de-lys) or a cross moline[1] (the ends of the arms are forked and rounded).

Most notably, a red Cross of Saint James with flourished arms, surmounted with an escallop,[2] was the emblem of the twelfth-century Spanish military Order of Santiago and Portuguese Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, both named after Saint James the Greater.

The Pilgrimage

The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is an ancient pilgrimage trail originating in medieval times. Made up of a vast network of roads and paths, pilgrims travel these to arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral is found in the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela of Galicia in the northwest of Spain.

It was no coincidence that I finished this cross on July 25th this year. (Shown in pictures on the night of July 25th in the finish room.) I’m baffled by this honestly and I had no idea that it is the Day recognized in western religion as the Feast of St. James.  

Every time I make these crosses I always imagine what it is like to have a sharp sword at your neck and to not deny Jesus for fear of death. 

Could we do this today in the face of death?