Santiago cathedral

[Cookiedave]

Is the swinging incense stopped at the moment and for how long?
I’m intending to do the Camino in mid May and b in Santiago mid June

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I don’t think the repairs will be done this year.

 

[Cookiedave]

I don’t think the repairs will be done this year.

What a shame

 

[t2andreo]

The botafumeiro pulley mechanism was repaired in 2018. It works. The issue is the surrounding areas of the central nave of the Cathedral. The priority was the outer structure, the roof, and the supporting structure, including for the botafumeiro. NOW, they are focusing on repairing all the stuff inside this shell.

Because of the scaffolding and other construction considerations, it is impossible to swing the Botafumeiro for the time being. So, until further notice, all PILGRIM Masses have been moved to the Basilica of St. Francisco. Masses of national significance, like for the great feast on 25 July, will be held at the Church of San Martin Pinerio.

Here is the official ,pdf put out by the Cathedral than explains all of this... see attached file...

Hope this helps.

 

[Cookiedave]

Thx so much t2andreo, another question then....
Is there a botafumeiro / insence thing at the new church - Basilica of St. Francisco....
I'm not religious but for me it would be a nice/romantic ending to the camino….
Also I the movie 'the way' martin sheen... they I believe hug a statue of st jame's if I recall correctly.... Is that still possible ? true even ?
regards

 

[Bradypus]

There is still access to hug the silver sculpture of the apostle and to visit the crypt where the relics are kept.

 

[t2andreo]

Thx so much t2andreo, another question then....
Is there a botafumeiro / insence thing at the new church - Basilica of St. Francisco....
I'm not religious but for me it would be a nice/romantic ending to the camino….
Also I the movie 'the way' martin sheen... they I believe hug a statue of st jame's if I recall correctly.... Is that still possible ? true even ?
regards

No. The only Botafumeiro I am aware of is in the Cathedral. The small, hand propelled / swung devices are called "incensers" or "incenser." The Botafumeiro hung over the main altar is merely a humongous version of this, traditional handheld device for spreading incense in a church.

This said, and as mentioned above, the Cathedral HAS maintained access to the statue of Santiago behind the main altar for the "embracero." This is the ritual embrace of the apostle saint, where one thanks him for a safe arrival. Also open, is the crypt under the main altar housing the casket, containing the holy relics of Santiago.

You still access the Cathedral from the southside / Plaza de Praterias side door. You can do the embracero first, then turn to your left to descend the stairs to the crypt. Signage is good, and security personnel are present. When you exit after viewing / venerating the relics, you exit the Cathedral by the same doors you entered.

No one has been able to touch the hand print in the Portico of Glory since about 2012. So, this is out. You can take a separate tour, accessible from the outside on the west facade, to tour the newly restored Portico of Glory and SEE the hand print... no touching...

See the pdf file I posted for more information...

Hope this helps.

 

[Cookiedave]

thx so much....
very helpful....
I'm sure I'll have lots more questions.....
If I'm honest my brain is spinning a bit, As ive got so much information on Camino I'm a bit overloaded...

 

[t2andreo]

You can see the entire Botafumeiro "event' on You Tube. Just search for "Botafumeiro Santiago de Compostela..." There are dozens, if not hundreds of these videos shot by tourists and some pilgrims too.

This said, everyone should see it, "in the flesh" at least once. Even my wife of 40 years, who is NOT a peregrina, was visibly moved when she saw it this past August. I had previously shown her the You Tube videos. But seeing it for real was something else entirely.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cookiedave]

Totally agree...
Seeing something on tv ( even the Hollywood movie of Camino) is completely different from doing it...
Like bungee jumping lol in my experience or parachuting
Regards

 

[David Tallan]

No one has been able to touch the hand print in the Portico of Glory since about 2012. So, this is out. You can take a separate tour, accessible from the outside on the west facade, to tour the newly restored Portico of Glory and SEE the hand print... no touching...

I can completely respect the "no touching" decision. It would be nice if they could take a cast or 3D scan or something and make a replica column that people could place their hand on, perhaps in the museum or elsewhere in the cathedral, to give them something of the experience that those of us got who completed caminos well before 2012. It wouldn't be exactly the same, but it would be something.

 

[t2andreo]

I understood that there WAS a discussion within the Cathedral and museum community some years ago, addressing the issue of making a plaster cast, then constructing a resin reproduction. The result would be identical to the original, in situ.

The idea was that the COPY would be placed in the Cathedral museum and might have been touchable.

However, I was told that the grown ups in the room decided this was not appropriate for so revered a cultural icon...would people stroke a copy of Michelangelo's David? (my thought)

I also understand the costs were considered prohibitive. Finally, the experts did not want the original column manipulated this way, fearing inadvertent damage.

And that, as they say, is that... We all enjoy it from a distance, while envying the actors in The Way...