[Gocamino] Santiago news

[Rosina]

Hello you all, again
Still snowed-in by that wonderful blanket of snow bestowed upon New Yorkers by the meteorolical powers, I've time to read pilgrims things and can share them:
--From the 31st. of January to the 28th of February there will be an exhibition at the San Martin Penario monastery/cum/seminary (across the Santiago Cathedral door in Azabacherias Square)  of photographs and other mementos of events related to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Santiago last November.  The exhibit will include myriads of photographs from which those finding themselves in them can acquire a copy (for free).  The exhibit will also include the objects given to the Cathedral by the Pope such as the silver chalice and other Mass symbols used  during the general Mass in Santiago. Cds and the transcripts of the music composed for the occasion will also be available.  In addition, applications for the one thousand fully funded University scholarships in commemoration of the Pope's visit may be obtained at the exhibit.  The Salon Peregrinos (Pilgrims Hall) of the Hospederia of San Martin Penario that will host the event will be open Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  and from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. Those wishing copies of photographs may do so in those days ,  from the 31st. of January to the 13th of February from 5:00 to 7:45 p.m.

- The Pilgrims' office winter hours will be from 10:am. to 8:p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

-Private contributions have augmented to 2.5 million Euros (4 million dollars) the funds available for the cultural and educational commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the Santiago Cathedral; included in the projects are the rehabilitation of the much beloved and long suffering Berenguela Bell and a thorough review and redo of the Botafumeiro works and ropes which, many feel, got through the demands of the 2010 Holy Year on a wing and a prayer.

According to the surviving documentation the builder and sculptor Maestro Mateo was born in Lugo and lived there with his family at the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th. During that time he designed and built the Cesuras and Minho bridges in Portomarin. In February of 1168 King Ferdinand II put him in charge of the Cathedral of Santiago works. His remuneration was 100 maravwedis for life. Forty years later, in 1211, the then archbishop Pedro Muniz consecrated he Cahedral in the presence of king Alfonso IX.
There had been two other attempted Cathedrals before the present one: in the 9th Century Alfonso II ordered the first one to be built using the remnants of the Roman necropolis where the relics of Sntiago and his disciples had been found, but in the tenth century Alfonso III ordered the first one to be torn down and built his own one with brand new marble materials; this one was destroyed by the Moor Almanzor in 998 ; after several attempts to rebuild it, finally, in 1078, King Alonso VI and Bishop Pelaez totally scrapped previous rebuilding attempts and began building the present one from scratch.  Power struggles and turf-fights between kings and bishops and archbishops pretty much paralyzed any efforts to get on with the project until the appearance on the scene of the unbelievable Maestro Mateo who not only got the engineering and architectural  challenges in the building of the Cathedral in hand,  but managed, in his spare time it seems,  to work on the Portico de Gloria, on the breath-taking stone choir (now in view in the Cathedral Museum) and on a myriad other magnificent construction and artistic wonder works all over Galicia.
I hope that the 800-years celebration of the Cathedral will give pride of place to such pre-Renaissance Renaissance genius. 
Hugs!
Rosina