Pilgrim - what is it?Every once in your life, but I've heard that word.Maybe on TV or from their parents.But everyone knows its true value?But it is associated with a whole layer of medieval culture.Although some of the young would say that this is the name of a rock band or a film.
Referring to the dictionary
Generally, pilgrims - is, of course, strangers.Travelers to the holy places, deeply religious wanderers.There was word from the Latin peregrinus, which means "wandering."In tsarist Russia, too, encountered the word, but more often it mutates into piligrimische.
Edakii Russian version.So called mighty pious pilgrim.Term and tales about him.In principle, the pilgrim - a synonym for the word "pilgrim".
Nowadays
In today's world, there are also pilgrims.Christians travel to holy places and to this day.But this - later.Every Muslim should at least once a pilgrimage to Mecca.In addition, a significant part of the population of the United States consider themselves descendants of the Pilgrims.Why is that?
Patrimony
In the strict sense of the word Pilgrim Fathers - is not at all the pilgrims, and holy places they went.In fact, the so-called one of the first Europeans landed and founded a colony on the territory of what is now the United States.It happened in the early seventeenth century.Then, in 1620, persecuted for dissent Anglican church a group of British Puritans decided to find a new place to live.As part of the two hundred people (among whom were women and children), they went to the shores of the New World.But travel itself in those days it was difficult, so they enlisted the support of a large trading company.Not for free, of course.
They had to work their way.However, it turned out that after a long journey the ship landed not where expected.And, without thinking twice, the Puritans established a settlement on the site of the modern Plymouth.They were the first settlers in the history of New England.And having decided that once in place, which they agreed, would not fall, travelers have considered themselves completely free of any obligations.They signed the so-called Meyflauerskoe agreement.The latter is a self-government agreement on colony.
Life them, of course, faced a difficult.The first winter suffered only half the settlers.Almost immediately clashes with the local Indian tribes.But with more and better weapons Europeans managed to gain a foothold in the occupied territory.Not all the natives, of course, treated them with hostility.One of the Indians, who later became a legend even helped the settlement survive.He taught the Puritans to grow cereals on the new workstation.
well-chosen word
But why all these people were called pilgrims?And it all began with "witticism."In 1793, the festival dedicated to the first settlers, the Reverend Charles Robbins preached.In it he called the colonists arrived there, the Pilgrim fathers.His mind, in principle, is clear: people are looking for the freedom of religion.And we committed to this long and difficult journey.Then, the name stuck already at the politicians.And after a while the English poet FD Hemanz wrote his poem "The arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers in New England."But this is certainly not the whole story.The first real pilgrims appeared in medieval Europe.They traveled mainly to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem.
Pilgrim Road - what is it?
It is also called the Way of St. James.And it is the whole world of pilgrims to the tomb of the apostle, which is in Spanish Santiago de Compostela.But there's another way to pilgrims.So called ancient stone road in Jerusalem.According to her believers went to a religious rite.
Long ago
What is this man so famous that thousands of pilgrims coming to him, could only be stopped by the black plague.The latter is known to have killed half the population of medieval Europe.These pilgrims is no doubt already know.
According to tradition, the Apostle died a martyr's death in 44 of the Nativity in the Holy Land.And his remains were placed in the boat and released into the Mediterranean Sea.It so happened that the vessel washed ashore in Spain, where the above-mentioned saint preached during his lifetime.It is considered a miracle.However, this happened only in the year 813.Then, on the banks of the ark with the relics found incorrupt monk-hermit named Pelayo.
After half a century in this place by order of King Alfonso the third church was built.And it became known as a place not otherwise Compostela ("place marked star").
There is a legend that the apostle was miraculously and help during battles against the Moors.One way or another, but he was considered the patron saint of Spain.During the life of St. James, also made a long journey as a pilgrim.What does this make him the patron saint of pilgrims, he could hardly have then assumed.Incidentally, he was from the Holy Land to Spain.
Meanwhile, the city has Compostela as its territory was buried one of the twelve apostles, becoming a shrine, not only in Spain but also the entire Catholic world.
There is a legend that Emperor Charlemagne had a dream.There the Lord showed him the way to the shrine - the Milky Way, which went through France and Spain.And God told him to clear the road of pilgrims from the Moors.The latter was of considerable importance to establish tradition.The emperor sent troops there, and we can say, paved the way.
But when in the twelfth century, the Spanish crown was established by military order of chivalry of St. James, whose task was to protect pilgrims, the way this has become even more "comfortable."
Compostela equated to Rome and Jerusalem - Pope Calixtus II granted the believers going to the right to indulgence.Since then, the place has become very popular.Pilgrims go there from all over the world.The road pilgrims overgrown churches and inns, which positively affected the economic situation of the region.
Meanwhile, paved the way so that the path of the pilgrims could visit other shrines - the power of the Holy Faith, Mary Magdalene and many others.We passed on this road and the famous pilgrims.This, for example, Bishop Godeskalk.
In the nineteenth century the road was open again.And every year the number of pilgrims coming for her, only grows.
Route
road starts in the south of France and the Pyrenees, on it is possible to go through passes or Ronsevale Somport.But in Spain this way and passes from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela.It there is called "French Way".
In the Middle Ages pilgrims going there, guided by the Milky Way.He is said to have traced the saint in heaven.So here he showed the way to the Emperor Charlemagne.Because it is a cluster of stars in the sky are also often called "the way of St. James."
In conclusion
So Pilgrim - who is it?First of all a believer.He has a purpose and the way in which he has to go to reach it.Pilgrim were in the past, at present and there are likely to be in the future.A matter of respect that many Americans remember and take pride in the fact that their ancestors were deeply religious people.Perhaps as ever, and they will call themselves the first settlers on a distant planet.
