Saint James path rediscovered in Poland

[sillydoll]

This summer, a new part of the Saint James’ Way that goes through Małopolska, leading from Sandomierz to Krakow, was opened. During a mass in the Dominican Church of Saint James in Sandomierz, which preceded the official opening of the route, the superior of the monastery, Father Wojciech Krok, preached: “It is not only the physical, but a certain spiritual path that we have to travel that is a part of our life. The pilgrimage to Santiago has the elements of a spiritual path.”
The first section of the Polish route was reconstructed in July 2005, and it became the Lower Silesian part of the Saint James’ Way. The event was followed by route openings in several other voivodships, as well as plans to reconstruct the route in other parts of the country.

Interest in the Way is increasing and people who have recently made the journey are helping to create it. A special forum designated for Polish pilgrims testifies to this. It is a good way to exchange opinions, find a person that will accompany you when travelling and to search for information.

http://www.krakowpost.com/article/1670

 

[laurie]

When the post on the Camino in Poland was posted we were walking along the Malopolska Droga sw. Jakuba towards the beautiful wooden church of St.James in Wieclawice which is the last "stop" before Krakow for those who walk from Sandomierz. We were a group of members of the CSJ visiting the Confraternity in that part of Poland. The route is well marked from Sandomierz and the parishes are working hard to provide for pilgrims. It is possible to walk for 5 days from one church of St.James to another, (though the church of St.James in Krakow is no longer standing). Ks.Ryszard Honkisz (Fr. Richard is Parish priest of Wieclawice) has worked enthusiastically to establish the route. We were made very welcome all along the way by many hospitable people though it was only possible for us to walk a short distance through beautiful woods in autumn sunshine.
Two years earlier some of us from the CSJ had walked a short stretch of the Camino Polaco near Jakubow. This route could begin on the border with Lithuania. (We were told in Olsztyn of pilgrims from Lithuania). There is a challenge here for those who wish to start far to the east.....from Kiev perhaps?
Look at http://www.swjakob.pl and click on Bractwo sw.Jakuba to see a short film.....which shows the woods we walked through. (My apologies for the lack of accents on the words in Polish!!)

Maricristina

 

[Canuck]

Look at http://www.swjakob.pl
Maricristina

Change the o for a u in the internet address for it to work. (swjakub)

Enjoy!
Jean-Marc

 

[sillydoll]

You mention Kiev. Do you know if there are there any St James' churches, or signs of Saint James in Russia? I have tried to Google it but have'nt had much luck. I read in a book on Moscow that underneath the zakomary gables in the Cathedral of the Archangel (built in 1505 by an Italian architect) is a scallop shell motif.

 

[laurie]

Wikipedia gives just one reference to a church of St. James in Russia, the Church of St. James Son of Zebedee, in Moscow (Kazyonnaya Sloboda). There is an illustration but no further information. It appears to be the only church with that dedication in Moscow.
I mentioned Kiev because there are hopes of extending the camino from Sandomierz into the Ukraine.
Maricristina

 

[Peter Robins]

the Orthodox church was always more interested in the 'other' James, and never took much interest in Santiago. I would doubt if you'll find many references to pilgrimage to Santiago in the eastern churches.

AIUI, the intended route from Kiev is the Via Regia, so not via Sandomierz, which is more of a 'branch line' further north. http://www.jakub-malopolska.itl.pl/grafika/mapa1.jpg

Photo of rather cold-looking CSJ on the Sandomierz group's blog http://sandomierz.wordpress.com/2009/11 ... ndomierzu/

 

[Telluridewalker]

On that map of Poland, I see four different icons of the scallop shell- are these different/competing "brands" of the Camino in Poland? (I wish I read Polish.) Anyplace online in English that anyone can recommend for info on the Camino in Poland?

 

[Peter Robins]

in fact, I see there's a new page on the current status from the Ukraine border to Krakow on that site. Here's Google's (not too bad) translation
http://www.google.co.uk/translate?js=y& ... ry_state0=

 

[Peter Robins]

On that map of Poland, I see four different icons of the scallop shell- are these different/competing "brands" of the Camino in Poland? (I wish I read Polish.) Anyplace online in English that anyone can recommend for info on the Camino in Poland?

there's an overview on my website http://maps.peterrobins.co.uk/routes.html but other than that . . .

not so much competing as differentiating - the Poles do cooperate, unlike certain other people I could mention ;-)

 

[kubapigora]

Here- http://mypielgrzymi.com/drogi/ you will find a map of all existing routes in our country. Different scallop styles in various regions is just the consequence of different groups working on the Camino in Poland. If you wish to get some information on the routes go to http://www.camino.net.pl. Most of the organisations and single people working on the route are now organised around association "Przyjaciele Dróg Świętego Jakuba w Polsce". There is a lot going on at polish Caminos nowadays and we will be more than happy to assist all pilgrims, who wish to come and visit us.
Take care. Kuba.