What is the Liber Sancti?
What is the Liber Sancti?
The Codex Calixtinus–or Liber Sancti Jacobi / Book of Saint James–, a jewel in medieval bibliography, is one of the richest medieval sources for historians, geographers, musicologists, sociologists, ethnologists, art historians and linguists.
Why is the Codex Calixtinus important?
The book provides a valuable insight into the life of the 12th-century pilgrim. It also describes the city of Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. The popular appeal of Book V led to it achieving the greatest fame, and it has been described as the first tourist’s guide book.
When was the Codex Calixtinus written?
1130 and 1140
The Codex Calixtinus, housed at the cathedral in Santiago, is a manuscript of the book entitled Liber Sancti Jacobi written between 1130 and 1140. It contains 225 folios. It is considered by many to be the first tourist promotional book in history.
Who composed Congaudeant Catholici?
Finally, the Benedicamus Domino and Deo gratias conclude these vespers, but the celebration continues with Congaudeant catholici, the earliest known three-part polyphonic piece, composed by Magister Albertus of Paris (see above).
What is the purpose of the Codex Calixtinus?
Codex Calixtinus. It was intended as an anthology of background detail and advice for pilgrims following the Way of St. James to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great, located in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (Spain). The collection includes sermons, reports of miracles and liturgical texts associated…
What does the letter of Pope Callixtus II say?
The letter of Pope Callixtus II which opens the book, occupies both recto and verso of the first two folios. The author, who claims to be Callixtus II, tells how he collected many testimonies on the good deeds of Saint James, “traversing the cruel grounds and provinces for fourteen years”.
Was the codex stolen from the cathedral?
The codex appeared to be in perfect condition but an in depth analysis will have to be performed in order to verify it. The former cathedral employee was convicted of the theft of the codex and of EUR 2.4 million from collection boxes, and was sentenced to ten years in prison in February 2015.
