Missing Pilgrim

[joanjf]

Thank you so much you wonderful people.
My humble request turns into a research project.
Thank you.
I admire you all.
I will walk that walk when my body says yes.
Been Camino

 

[HedaP]

Thank you @Katharina, just making sure. You’d make a great detective.

 

[Kathar1na]

You’d make a great detective.

Like many others, I have a knack for finding stuff on the internet and in electronic books, you just have to ask the right questions . It seemed quite important so I'm happy that our collective efforts have tracked it down.

Ever since I walked through Aulnay on the road from Tours in France, I've been intrigued by Romanesque sculpture. I knew the biblical story of Daniel in the lions' den but what I've learnt now is the fact that it stood, for early Christians, for resurrection in particular, hence I suppose it's a motif chosen for the lid of a sarcophagus, as may have been the case for the stone slab now incorporated in the outside wall of this small church in Airexe. But there are many ways of reading these sculptures and what they can mean to us.

 

[Kiwi-family]

@joanjf This morning I was reading the latest blogpost of a crafty lady in England. As I read her words I thought of you - they might help in your healing.
“We wrapped up warm to wander around the festive markets. We munched on street food, under the shadow of Tower Bridge. We marvelled at the views over the capital from the Sky Garden. We just generally mooched about and it was fantastic.

It was hard of course, as I regressed into thoughts of Mum. How much I miss her, and would've loved her to be right there with me. But I smiled and knew she was there in spirit. It's impossible to enjoy anything without a little regret when someone you love has died.
It's natural to feel empty, and to wish things were different. But I think it's really important to honour their memory by taking every opportunity to live in the moment. It's ok to laugh, and feel joy. You're not disrespecting or diminishing the grief by being happy for the simple things.
As we approach the latter part of January, I do hope you're all settling in to the rhythm of a New Year. That whatever's going on in your life, you find the strength to cope with it. This time last year I was in the depths of despair. It was hard. But I survived, and you can too.“

 

[joanjf]

Thank you Kiwi family for your kind words and thoughts.
Life is tough.
I miss my beautiful son. I miss my Brother.
I try to live my life and theirs to. But the memories are always there wishing it could be different.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it. This is a smaller version but am very happy to send the full-sized image if wanted. Just PM me with an email address and it will be so. Thank you to @HedaP for bringing it to my attention. I hope it brings a small measure of peace for the loss of your brother. Warm regards, Jordon.

 

[HedaP]

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it. This is a smaller version but am very happy to send the full-sized image if wanted. Just PM me with an email address and it will be so. Thank you to @HedaP for bringing it to my attention. I hope it brings a small measure of peace for the loss of your brother. Warm regards, Jordon.
View attachment 39335

Well done you! And it’s a beautiful photo. Shows clearly Daniel protected by two lions.

 

[joanjf]

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it. This is a smaller version but am very happy to send the full-sized image if wanted. Just PM me with an email address and it will be so. Thank you to @HedaP for bringing it to my attention. I hope it brings a small measure of peace for the loss of your brother. Warm regards, Jordon.
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Thank you for the beautiful Photograph. Hopefully many pilgrims will go to see this now they know of it.. please send me a large photo when you can I will send you a message with my address. Thank you so much and Buen Camino

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it. This is a smaller version but am very happy to send the full-sized image if wanted. Just PM me with an email address and it will be so. Thank you to @HedaP for bringing it to my attention. I hope it brings a small measure of peace for the loss of your brother. Warm regards, Jordon.

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it. This is a smaller version but am very happy to send the full-sized image if wanted. Just PM me with an email address and it will be so. Thank you to @HedaP for bringing it to my attention. I hope it brings a small measure of peace for the loss of your brother. Warm regards, Jordon.
View attachment 39335

View attachment 39335

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

For those who want to visit Daniel and the Lions here are the directions:

The church you are looking for, Iglesia de Santiago, is in Eirexe (Airexe) which is between Portomarin and Palas de Rei (Brierley's stage 30.) Most of the way from Portomarin to Eirexe you will be on a 400 meter climb but the climb portion is over 15 km so its an easy 3% grade. Then, at the top of Sierra Ligonde, you start downhill past Ligonde.

The next few paragraphs describe what to do next but if the next link works right you probably won't need my description. The link is to an interactive map (you may have to zoom out some):
https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=42.863270,-7.785559&z=18&t=h

You will follow a hairpin turn to the left and then shortly cross a river (the bridge is rather non-descript.) Then you start climbing again. A map has you passing a cafe, Casa Mariluz, on your right (hope it is still there with the same name.) The map then wants you to leave the camino for a short distance by taking a left to the Iglesia de Santiago. This left is at a triangular traffic island. Google shows a sign there that may have information about the church and/or the town.

After taking the left the church is just ahead and in sight. The coordinates for the church itself are: 42.863893,-7.787043

Its steeple has two openings for two bells. Photo: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3LdivOMGI8/VjvdlWm6OSI/AAAAAAAAHz4/uzLDppj-EuM/s640/2204+Saturday%2C+%E2%80%8ESeptember+%E2%80%8E20%2C+%E2%80%8E2014%2C+%E2%80%8F%E2%80%8E124+PM.JPG

A description of Daniel's stone has it on the south side of the church. It's a big stone, outside, low to the ground to the left of a door. Photo: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbC-UwSspmA/V2q2nJ_0IJI/AAAAAAAALdI/F1hPLxP85Tg_eIXqMG4fWYPrzFUHjTalwCLcB/s640/2204cc+Airexe+-++Igrexa+de+Santiago+-+stone+slab+and+door+in+S+wall+%28gl.wikipedia.org%29.jpg

The photos above come from this blog that also has a description of things: http://madillcamino2014.blogspot.com/2015/10/placeholder-saturday-september-20-2014.html

The blog says of the church: "The portal has some unusual decorative elements. On its capitals are birds—incised lines indicating their feathers—picking at plants."

 

[joanjf]

Thank you Jozero. you are a wonderful kind person. To do a detour to take photos leaves me speechless.i am humbled by your actions.
Pleas send me larger photos when you are able too. This gives me joy in my heart.
It will be 4 years 9 months for my son tomorrow. My Brother 4years 4 months. I shed a tear each and every day for them. They were my little family. I look for anything that helps me to feel strong. So I appreciate your kindness.
I will see this place one day and like I said walk the 100kms when my body says go.
Love to you all and Buen Camino Jozero

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Thank you Jozero. you are a wonderful kind person. To do a detour to take photos leaves me speechless.i am humbled by your actions.
Pleas send me larger photos when you are able too. This gives me joy in my heart.
It will be 4 years 9 months for my son tomorrow. My Brother 4years 4 months. I shed a tear each and every day for them. They were my little family. I look for anything that helps me to feel strong. So I appreciate your kindness.
I will see this place one day and like I said walk the 100kms when my body says go.
Love to you all and Buen Camino Jozero

That this has made a difference for you makes it special for us, Joan. In all honesty, the detour was very small and it was only through the collaboration with Heda and Rick that really made it possible. I am thankful I was in the right place at the right time. I will say a small prayer for your men tomorrow when I give my thanks to St James. My best wishes to you.

 

[VNwalking]

It seemed quite important so I'm happy that our collective efforts have tracked it down.

For those who want to visit Daniel and the Lions here are the directions:

Hello @joanjf - Yesterday I passed the small church in Eirexe and thanks to @Rick of Rick and Peg was able to quickly find this and photograph it.

Pilgrims helping pilgrims.
This posts on this thread this week are SO heartwarming. Thank you, everyone, for being such good people.

And all of us are behind you, Joan, with heartfelt well-wishing.
Buen Camino and ultreia....

 

[joanjf]

Thank you Jozero. Prayers for my Son and Brother are so welcome.
Bless you.

 

[joanjf]

Thank you Ric Nd Peg and Kathar1na and Heda for making all this possible.
Many will go to see Daniel and the animals. It has a lot of history.
My kindest wishes.