Santiago - Can you still hug him at the Cathedral?

[El Cascayal]

Anyone who has recently arrived in Santiago, is it now possible to climb up behind the altar in the cathedral & hug the saint?

 

[K_Lynn]

What? Why?

 

[El Cascayal]

What? Why?

Post COVID this was closed to Peregrinos/visitors. It was closed in March when I was last there.

 

[K_Lynn]

Post COVID this was closed to Peregrinos/visitors. It was closed in March when I was last there.

I'm going to need you to explain the whole thing. People actually traipse about the altar and touch things?
.....Nevermind, I googled it in the middle of posting this. I had no idea that was a thing. I'll try to make a mental note for next year. lol

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Anyone who has recently arrived in Santiago, is it now possible to climb up behind the altar in the cathedral & hug the saint?

No.

 

[natefaith]

I believe you are still only allowed to go down to see the relic box of St James, but not climb the stairs behind the altar.

Also, for everyone going in to the Cathedral - please remember to bring a mask. It's one of the places that still requires one.

 

[Vince Rollason]

Anyone who has recently arrived in Santiago, is it now possible to climb up behind the altar in the cathedral & hug the saint?

I was there in June 2022 and it was still not possible.

 

[lt56ny]

I'm going to need you to explain the whole thing. People actually traipse about the altar and touch things?
.....Nevermind, I googled it in the middle of posting this. I had no idea that was a thing. I'll try to make a mental note for next year. lol

On my first camino when I arrived in Santiago you could still put your hands in the statue in the front of the cathedral. The front was open then. It seems to be closed almost all the time now and you have to go in the sides. I don't know why but when I hugged St. James it was really a moving moment for me. Hope you have the opportunity to do it one day.

 

[K_Lynn]

On my first camino when I arrived in Santiago you could still put your hands in the statue in the front of the cathedral. The front was open then. It seems to be closed almost all the time now and you have to go in the sides. I don't know why but when I hugged St. James it was really a moving moment for me. Hope you have the opportunity to do it one day.

I'll try to remember when I walk again next year!

 

[PadreQ]

I have a friend there now and it doesn't seem to be open to hug Santiago. Masks are no longer required today. What is the issue with another restriction on traditional pilgrim practice? I confess this is irksome! It seems unnecessary. It's been closed since the interior was restored. Is this permanent? Anybody know?

 

[natcire]

We were totally bummed out in September 1, when we realized we could not hug Santiago.

 

[El Cascayal]

As of November 23Rd of this year. The door to hug Santiago remains closed. I don’t see any reason for this.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

As of November 23Rd of this year. The door to hug Santiago remains closed. I don’t see any reason for this.

Covid-19 is still among us , that's why.

 

[El Cascayal]

Masks are no longer required in the cathedral and very few people wore one, I did. Hugging the saint is probably incredibly low for transmission.

 

[Former member 92300]

I believe you are still only allowed to go down to see the relic box of St James, but not climb the stairs behind the altar.

Also, for everyone going in to the Cathedral - please remember to bring a mask. It's one of the places that still requires one.

Yes - this was my experience both Caminos (July 2021 and June 2022). And I can confirm that yes, you can go down to see the relic box but not climb the stairs. And yes - mask was still required - although I can't confirm if that is still true.

 

[SioCamino]

I've been reluctant to contribute as what I'm about to say is my opinion rather than fact. I would be very surprised if hug access is granted again. The restoration work on the cathedral has been enormous and i imagine at an enormous cost. Looking at the statue of St James in the altar and his silver (?) shawl, it appears much brighter and cleaner than it was in the past. If visitors were allowed to hug and touch the statue as they did in the past, it would not remain in its restored state for very long. I doubt that this would be allowed to happen. While hugging the statue was a tradition and may have been meaningful for past pilgrims, it would not have been good or healthy for the statue/coverings.
The cathedral is a the caretaker of a huge amount of cultural and religious heritage and take that responsibility very seriously as far as i can see. Some practices that were not perceived as harmful in the past would no longer be allowed now that we understand the long term damage e.g. Touching the portico of glory etc


This is my interpretation though and not based on firm facts!

 

[Bradypus]

The restoration work on the cathedral has been enormous and i imagine at an enormous cost. Looking at the statue of St James in the altar and his silver (?) shawl, it appears much brighter and cleaner than it was in the past. If visitors were allowed to hug and touch the statue as they did in the past, it would not remain in its restored state for very long.

The current silver cape is a fairly recent version from 2004. The previous very worn cape was placed in the cathedral museum and a replica installed. I see no good reason why the tradition of a hug for the apostle should not continue with a new cape from time to time when necessary.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Museum - Google Arts & Culture

A tour of the cathedral's most emblematic pieces, showcasing more than 1,000 years of history.

artsandculture.google.com

 

[Simon]

The current silver cape is a fairly recent version from 2004. The previous very worn cape was placed in the cathedral museum and a replica installed. I see no good reason why the tradition of a hug for the apostle should not continue with a new cape from time to time when necessary.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Museum - Google Arts & Culture

A tour of the cathedral's most emblematic pieces, showcasing more than 1,000 years of history.

artsandculture.google.com

I've been reluctant to contribute as what I'm about to say is my opinion rather than fact. I would be very surprised if hug access is granted again. The restoration work on the cathedral has been enormous and i imagine at an enormous cost. Looking at the statue of St James in the altar and his silver (?) shawl, it appears much brighter and cleaner than it was in the past. If visitors were allowed to hug and touch the statue as they did in the past, it would not remain in its restored state for very long. I doubt that this would be allowed to happen. While hugging the statue was a tradition and may have been meaningful for past pilgrims, it would not have been good or healthy for the statue/coverings.
The cathedral is a the caretaker of a huge amount of cultural and religious heritage and take that responsibility very seriously as far as i can see. Some practices that were not perceived as harmful in the past would no longer be allowed now that we understand the long term damage e.g. Touching the portico of glory etc


This is my interpretation though and not based on firm facts!

I've hugged the saint at the end of a couple of previous Camino journeys so was sad to see the doors firmly shut last week when I arrived again at the completion of the Portugues route. I should have asked someone in the know, but with all the restoration work that has been completed in recent years I concur with SioCamino's comment..

 

[Adhemar78]

Anyone who has recently arrived in Santiago, is it now possible to climb up behind the altar in the cathedral & hug the saint?

No. I was able to do that in 2014 when I got to Santiago but I was just there in April (2023) and it was closed off.

 

[DreamWeaver]

I'm going to need you to explain the whole thing. People actually traipse about the altar and touch things?
.....Nevermind, I googled it in the middle of posting this. I had no idea that was a thing. I'll try to make a mental note for next year. lol

Haha, yes. That was the tradition, hug the statue, then go down the crypt to see reliquary of St James. But during the pandemic, they stopped it. I do hope I get to do it again this autumn.

 

[SBurgess]

I was there in October 2021 and was told the prohibition on touching was to be permanent. The concern was preservation of the Saint's statue.

 

[David Tallan]

I was there in October 2021 and was told the prohibition on touching was to be permanent. The concern was preservation of the Saint's statue.

First we can no longer put our hand into the handprint. Now we can no longer hug the saint. I understand that it is really about visiting the relics. But I think there is something that really touches us as humans to have a tactile ritual to mark our arrival. Someone will have to figure out something tactile to replace what is lost.

 

[Bradypus]

First we can no longer put our hand into the handprint. Now we can no longer hug the saint.

I miss those things too. But even more I miss just being able to walk up those steps and end my Camino by walking through the Portico da Gloria into the nave of the cathedral as the cathedral builders intended.

 

[Theresa Brandon]

There was no one behind me when I hugged St. James in 2018, so I took a couple of photos.

 

[Kate1234]

June 29, 2023 almost no line this morning. You can go in the left side door, descend down to see the bones in their silver sarcophagus, then climb up and hug the statue of St. James. The sign recommends you do not put your face on him or kiss him.