Formation of the Pilgrimage Route through Lithuania to Santiago de Compostela
Formation of the Pilgrimage Route through Lithuania to Santiago de Compostela

Summary/Abstract: For the period 1987–2019, the Council of Europe certified 40 cultural routes which, being linked to European history and heritage, contribute to the insight into today’s European identity. The first cultural way certified in 1987 is the Camino de Santiago, leading to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where, according to the legend, the Tomb of the Apostle James is located. This article presents the development of the pilgrimage route of Saint James: the formation of the cult at the Tomb of Saint James at the end of the first millennium – the beginning of the second millennium; the popularity of pilgrimage to Santiago de Com postela in the Middle Ages; the drawing of the branches of the way leading to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain throughout Europe and, at the same time, through the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – at the end of the 20th century. At the end of the 20th century – the beginning of the 21st century the pilgrimage route of Saint James to the city of Santiago de Compostela became a special element of cultural heritage and a spiritual asset of Europe. No other way in European history has played such a role in the formation and consolidation of a Christian European identity as the Camino de Santiago. On no other way will we find so many monuments of Christian culture. In 1993 the Camino de Santiago was added to the List of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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