Religion of Spain. History of Orthodoxy in Spain

Before you determine which religion of Spain, you need to make a little digression into the story. It is known that 2,000 years ago the holy apostle James Zebedee sailed to these severe shores of the Atlantic Ocean . He brought here the Gospel evangelism. But the local Celtic tribes took him wary and hostile. At some point, as the legend says, the apostle fell into cowardice and even discouragement. And then the Most Holy Virgin Mary appeared to him to console a man and strengthen his strength. Thus began the history of Christianity on this earth.

Legends and legends

Celts called this coast the shore of death. The ocean does not abate here for a minute. But the boat of the holy apostle landed unharmed. Scientists say that in a few years the religion of Spain was born, the communities of the first Christians appeared. According to scientific data, Christianity in Spain has existed since the 3rd century. But in fact, communities existed even earlier. There is a tradition that the apostle Paul brought Christianity to the Mediterranean coast of Spain . Another version says that the Christian community of North Africa brought the Gospel to the southern coast of Spain.

Defending the Faith

The whole history of Spain is the history of defending your faith. Even in the early Middle Ages, when the country was under the yoke of Muslims, the Spanish people rebelled against their conquerors. For several centuries he fought with the Arabs. The Spanish philosopher, historian and thinker Don Julian Marios says that perhaps Spain is the only country in Europe that, being Catholic, wanted to regain Catholicism at such a historic moment as the Reconquista period.

Covadonga

Covadonga is a place that is dear to every Spaniard. Here a small detachment of Christian Asturians defeated the superior forces of Muslim Arabs. Here the Reconquista began. The Spanish militia was led by the local prince Pelayo. History has not preserved any evidence of him, except one. According to legend, before the battle Pelayo all night praying in the cave. The Mother of God appeared to him. She promised to help the prince. The victory so inspired the Spaniards that they were inspired by it for 800 years, until the Reconquista was completed definitively. But even during the Arab rule in Spain there were people who did not hide that they were Christians. They were called Mosarabs - Christians living under the control of the Arabs.

Pilgrimage

Already at the very beginning of the Reconquista in Asturias brought the relics of the first Spanish martyrs, the religion of Spain began to form. It was then that the first pilgrims came to Oviedo. In Asturias, and to this day remember the saying of the first pilgrims: "The one who goes to Santiago, can not pass by Oviedo." In those days, traveling to holy places was a serious test. Near the Chapel, where the sir God is kept, the cemetery of pilgrims is located. It was from here in the early 9th century that the king of Asturias, Alphonse II, went to worship the relics of the holy apostle James.

All roads lead to Santiago

"All roads lead to Rome," the ancients used to say. But already in the Middle Ages all the ways were led here, in Santiago de Compostela. It was this pilgrimage route that made Europe a common space long before the European Union. From all sides, the brooks of pilgrims flock to the center of Santiago de Compostela. They gather in the cathedral, in a single line, rushing to the tomb of the Apostle James. Usually here come 5-6 million pilgrims a year. And if the day of the memory of the apostle coincides with a round date, there are 10 million of them.

In Santiago there is a brotherhood bearing the name of St. James. In recent years more and more pilgrims from Russia are joining him. On the streets of Madrid, as in any European capital, Russian, Ukrainian and Moldovan speech is heard more and more often. Our compatriots from the former Soviet Union come to the West in search of a better share, but in Europe today there is a serious economic crisis, so they face very big problems. Then the Russian Orthodox church becomes a point of support for them. Here they gather on Sundays. The religion of Spain is closely intertwined with the history of the Russian parish in Madrid, which began in 1761. This temple was transferred, closed, abolished, but now it is reborn again.

Spain: the main religion

There are places in Spain where there are no Orthodox churches. The Russian priest comes here only a few times a year, and divine services are performed in ancient Spanish churches. For example, in Asturias there is a temple of the Holy Martyr Christina. It was built in the 9th century, even before the church was divided into western and eastern - Catholic and Orthodox. Like ancient times, there is no electricity, no heating. Recently, this temple began to visit pilgrims from Russia. The parishioners of the Russian church have a good tradition of pilgrimage to the shrines of Spain. They are not only in known places, but also discover new routes for themselves.

What is the religion in Spain?

Like any multinational state, Spain professes several religions. Here you can meet and Christians, and Jews, and Muslims, and Catholics. Take for example a country like Austria. Spain, whose religion is very multifaceted, is similar to it in that here a considerable part of the population preaches Catholicism. This division into the Christian and Catholic church occurred back in the Middle Ages.