Church to remove Moor-slayer saint

BBC ^ | 3 May, 2004, | N/A

[swilhelm73]

A statue in a Spanish cathedral showing St James slicing the heads off Moorish invaders is to be removed to avoid causing offence to Muslims. Cathedral authorities in the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, on Spain's north west coast, plan to move the statue to the museum.

Among the reasons for the move is to avoid upsetting the "sensitivities of other ethnic groups".

The statue of St James "the Moor-slayer" is expected to be replaced by one depicting the calmer image of St James "the Pilgrim", by the same 18th century artist, Jose Gambino.

The Saracen-slaying image of St James, or Santiago in Spanish, is a symbol of the fight between Christianity and Islam and the reconquest of Spain from eight centuries of Moorish rule before 1492.

The saint is said to have appeared to Christian troops fighting Moorish army at the Battle of Clavijo in 844, the crusaders rallying to the cry of "Santiago y cierra Espana" - "St James, we will reconquer Spain".

Origins

Cathedral authorities insist the timing of the decision has nothing to do with the 11 March bombings in Madrid, which an Islamic group is alleged to have carried out.

Alejandro Barral, president of the cultural commission for the cathedral council, told BBC News Online: "This is not an opportunistic decision. This is not through fear of fanatics of any kind and nothing to do with 11 March or 11 September."

He said the decision was taken a few years ago, but simply had not yet been implemented.

Mr Barral said the idea was to try to take the image of the saint back to its origins - St James as the apostle or pilgrim who took the word of Jesus to the Iberian Peninsula.

The Baroque image of a sword-wielding St James cutting the heads off Moors is not a very sensitive or evangelical image that fits the teachings of Christ, he added.

The statue, when it is eventually moved from the chapel in the cathedral, is not likely to be hidden from the six million pilgrims and tourists who visit the city every year. It is due to take its place alongside dozens of other images of St James in the cathedral museum.

[Argus]

Why don't they just officially turn the cathedral into a mosque and have done with it?

[cavtrooper21]

Well, that didn't take the spineless socialists long..
When will they pass the "modesty" laws and start banning the sale of pork.

[jdege]

What are they going to do with all the statutes of El Cid Campeador?

[Condor51]

[glock rocks]

I guess nuns in burkhas aren't far off. God save us.

[SoDak]

Muslim countries are very careful not to be insensitive to native Christians, aren't they?

[Argus]

Melt them down for peace symbol medallions.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

End terrorism, kill terrorists.

[livius]

Well, the bells at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela were melted down to make lamps for the mosque at Cordoba when the Muslims conquered Galicia (area of Spain where Santiago is located), so there's a precedent.

[dufekin]

Spain might could use a Moor slayer these days. Help reduce the terrorist population.


And when are churches going to consider Eucharist "politically incorrect" because it offends Buddhists? C'mon, history and religion are what they are. They're not going to change.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Why don't they just officially turn the cathedral into a mosque and have done with it?"
Yes, if they are worried about offending the sensibilities of the Muslims, they should go all the way and turn the cathedral into a mosque and re-Islamize Spain. Only that will spare the oh-so-sensitive feelings of the baby-boy Moslems.

[DustyMoment]

Appease, appease, appease, appease. Why don't the Spaniards just cut to the chase, order the women to wear burkhas, destroy the cathedrals and replece them with mosques and change their national language from Spanish to Arabic?

It will take less time.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"Santiago de Compostela"

a very important pilgrimage site; Eleanor of Aquitane's father walked there in the 12th century in atonement.

Maybe they should instead put up a statue of what the Muslims did to the Christians when they were fighting to conquer, and then to retain, Spain.

[Restorer]

What are they going to do with all the statutes of El Cid Campeador?

The real Cid, as opposed to the legendary one, was quite willing to fight on the Muslim side when it suited him.

[LexBaird]

Welcome to the Re-Reconquista. Pick up your prayer rug at the door.

[Tax-chick]

Well, since St. James was a contemporary of Christ, he didn't REALLY fight any Moslems, because there weren't any. He was executed by one of the Herods.

[Restorer]

Well, since St. James was a contemporary of Christ, he didn't REALLY fight any Moslems, because there weren't any. He was executed by one of the Herods.

Apparently a saint can return to the earth when needed to kill the enemy.

[Tax-chick]

"Pious tradition"

[11th Earl of Mar]

Bubbleboy: "It's the Moors, you idiot!"

George Costanza: "Sorry, the card say, the Moops."