Before you determine which religion of Spain, you need to make a short digression into history. It is known that 2,000 years ago, the holy apostle James the Zebedee sailed to these harsh shores of the Atlantic Ocean . He brought evangelical evangelism here. But the local Celtic tribes took him wary and hostile. At some point, according to tradition, the apostle fell into cowardice and even despondency. And then the Blessed Virgin Mary herself appeared to him to console the man and strengthen his strength. Thus began the history of Christianity on this earth.
Legends and legends
The Celts called this coast the shore of death. The ocean does not stop here for a minute. But the boat of the holy apostle docked unharmed. Scientists say that in a few years the religion of Spain was born, the communities of the first Christians appeared. According to scientific evidence, 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 communities of North Africa brought the gospel to the southern coast of Spain.
Defending Faith
The whole history of Spain is the story of upholding one's faith. At the beginning of the 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 historical moment as the Reconquista period.
Covadong
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 began the Reconquista. The Spanish militia was led by the local prince Pelayo. History has not preserved any evidence about him, except for one. According to legend, before the battle Pelayo prayed all night in the cave. The Mother of God appeared to him. She promised help to the prince. The victory inspired the Spaniards so much that they were inspired by it for 800 years, until the Reconquista was finally completed. But even during Arab rule in Spain, there were people who did not hide the fact that they were Christians. They were called Mosarabs - Christians living under the control of Arabs.
Pilgrimage
At the very beginning, the Reconquista brought to Asturias the relics of the first Spanish martyrs, the religion of Spain began to form. It was then that the first pilgrims came to Oviedo. Asturias still remember the saying of the first pilgrims: "He who goes to Santiago cannot pass by Oviedo." In those days, traveling to holy places was a serious test. Near the Chapel, where the Lord Sovereign is stored, there is a cemetery of pilgrims. It was from here at the beginning of the 9th century that the king of Asturias Alfons II went to worship the relics of the Holy Apostle James.
All roads lead to Santiago.
“All roads lead to Rome,” the ancients said. But already in the Middle Ages, all roads led here to Santiago de Compostela. It was this pilgrimage route that made Europe a common space long before the European Union. From all sides to the center of Santiago de Compostela streams of pilgrims flock. They gather in the cathedral, in a single string rushing to the tomb of the Apostle James. Usually 5-6 million pilgrims come here annually. And if the day of remembrance of the apostle coincides with the round date, there are 10 million of them.
In Santiago there is a fraternity bearing the name of St. James. In recent years, more and more pilgrims from Russia have joined it. On the streets of Madrid, as in any European capital, Russian, Ukrainian and Moldavian speech are more and more often heard. Our compatriots from the former Soviet Union come to the West in search of a better share, but today in Europe there is a serious economic crisis, so they face very big problems. Then the point of support for them becomes a Russian Orthodox church. 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 moved, closed, abolished, but now it is reborn again.
Spain: The Main Religion
There are places in Spain where there are no Orthodox churches. A Russian priest comes here only a few times a year, and 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 division of the church into Western and Eastern - Catholic and Orthodox. Like ancient times, there is no electricity or heating. Recently, pilgrims from the Russian Federation began to visit this temple. The parishioners of the Russian temple have a good tradition of pilgrimage to the shrines of Spain. They are not only in famous places, but also discover new routes.
What religion is in Spain?
Like any multinational state, Spain professes several religions. Here you can meet 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 a considerable part of the population preaches Catholicism here. Such a division into the Christian and Catholic churches occurred back in the Middle Ages.