The Way of Sant James

• The medieval manuscript, preserved in the Santiago Cathedral, is now part of the most important documentary heritage in the history of mankind
• The proposal to request its inclusion in this prestigious list was made by the Galician government, which brought it to a vote at the last Jacobean Council in December 2015
• The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports was responsible for processing the request, which included other medieval copies of the ‘Liber Sancti Iacobi’
• Galicia thus boasts a new and unique recognition by UNESCO, in addition to the Camino Francés, the Camino Primitivo, the Camino del Norte and the city of Santiago de Compostela, which is the destination of all these routes, as well as the Walls of Lugo and the Tower of Hercules, all of which are already World Heritage sites.

Santiago de Compostela, 1 November 2017

The Xunta of Galicia wishes to express its satisfaction and celebrates UNESCO’s inclusion of the Codex Calixtinus in the Memory of the World Register, thus recognising its great value and significance. Following the recommendation of the International Consulting Committee, the medieval manuscript, which is kept in the archives of the Santiago Cathedral, is now part of this prestigious and vital list containing the most important documentary sources in the history of mankind.

The initiative to achieve its inclusion sprang from the Xunta de Galicia, which took over the proposal formulated by the International Committee of Experts in the Way of St James, and submitted it to a vote at the Jacobean Council held in Santiago de Compostela in December 2015, coinciding with the opening of the Jubilee of Mercy. This possibility was then evaluated by Spain’s other regions and by the institutions present in this organisation, presided by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Mr Íñigo Méndez de Vigo. His department, in concert with the General Office for Culture, was responsible for processing the application through the Sub-Directorate General for State Archives, part of the Directorate General for Fine Arts and Cultural Property, Archives, Libraries and Museums.

The inclusion of the Liber Sancti Iacobi in the Memory of the World Register underscores UNESCO’s appreciation of its value and significance, and shows that its relevance transcends the bounds of time and culture, and that it must thus be preserved for current and future generations and be shared will all the peoples in the world. This thus protects and raises awareness of the Codex and deepens the universal value of Jacobean heritage.
Eyewitness to Medieval Europe

Along with the Codex Calixtinus, UNESCO also recognises the medieval copies stored in the libraries and archives of Spain and Portugal. In fact, the full name of the proposal was The Codex Calixtinus of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and other medieval copies of the Liber Sancti Jacobi: The Iberian origins of the Jacobian tradition in Europe, as proof of the importance that all of these documents containing the written tradition of the cult of St James and the Way of St James had in medieval Europe.

The Memory of the World programme is one of UNESCO’s three complementary initiatives that seek to protect and raise awareness of the world’s cultural heritage. The other two are the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, of which the World Heritage List is a part, and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Galicia thus expands its catalogue of properties in these programmes, which already included the historic city of Santiago de Compostela, the Camino Francés, the Walls of Lugo, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña, the Camino Primitivo and the Camino del Norte, as well as the various sites along the aforementioned routes of St James, such as the cathedrals of Lugo and Mondoñedo and the Monastery of Santa María de Sobrado.

Jacobean and Universal Value

This recognition, which enhances the universal nature of Jacobean heritage, is being bestowed just as Turismo de Galicia is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of the Way of St James as the First European Cultural Route with an extensive schedule of activities that seek to accentuate the Way of St James’s contribution to building the continent’s identity.

The Codex Calixtinus was decisive in solidifying the role of the city of Santiago de Compostela as the destination of those pilgrims who, from the most remote regions of Europe, travelled to the tomb of the apostle James. The various books that make up this illuminated manuscript, especially Book V, define the basis for the pilgrimage and the role that the diocese of Compostela, led by Archbishop Diego Xelmírez, played in promoting it.
Compilation of five books

Of the five books that comprise the Codex Calixtinus, the first is the longest. It features liturgical content such as masses, homilies, sermons, songs, blessings, processions and stories about the passion of James the Greater. Book II lists the Apostle’s miracles at various places along the routes, including at sea. Book III tells how the body of the Apostle was taken from Jerusalem to Iria Flavia, and from there to Santiago de Compostela.

Book IV, also called Chronicle of Turpin and widely copied, is a literary retelling of the adventures of Charlemagne in Spain. Last and best known is Book V, a sort of guide to the various routes. Its pages describe the routes, sanctuaries, people, food and customs. It contains recommendations and warnings and describes the appearance of Santiago de Compostela and its Romanesque cathedral in the early 12th century.
This declaration is a call to continue working toward preserving this legacy.