Tribute to Elias Valiña , former priest in O Cebreiro.

[Peter Fransiscus]

In loving memory 🕯

On December 11th, from 11am, the former priest in O Cebreiro, Elías Valiña, will receive a tribute from the Pilgrim Reception Office, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his death. During the event, a sculpture will be unveiled in the garden of the building, made by local artist Óscar Aldonza, that will remember Valiña. In addition, the documentary "Elías Valiña. The inventor of the yellow arrows", directed by Aser Álvarez, will be screened. With this tribute, the Cathedral of Santiago wants to pay grateful memory to Elías Valiña, one of the great promoters of the recovery of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela at the end of the 20th century. The tribute will also include a small musical moment, and will be broadcast through the podcast channel "La flecha amarilla".

Elías Valiña Sampedro was a priest and theologian, parish priest in O Cebreiro, from his ordination in 1957 until his death in 1989. He dedicated a large part of his life to the care and study of the Jacobean pilgrimages, becoming one of the main architects of the recovery of the Camino de Santiago. His concern focused not only on the dissemination of the Camino, but also on the care and attention to the pilgrim, promoting the creation of hostels and reception spaces. He held the position of Commissioner of the Camino de Santiago, and edited the magazine «Boletín del Camino de Santiago», converted shortly afterwards into the magazine «Peregrino», which is still published today by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Camino de Santiago. He also took charge of the signposting of the Camino, being the first to paint the already historic yellow arrows, a symbol known worldwide today

 

[Dave]

This is great news and well deserved. I was curious about the documentary and it appears to be available online, for those of us far from the pilgrim office: https://www.agalega.gal/videos/154989-elias-valina-o-inventor-das-frechas-amarelas

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

In loving memory 🕯

On December 11th, from 11am, the former priest in O Cebreiro, Elías Valiña, will receive a tribute from the Pilgrim Reception Office, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his death. During the event, a sculpture will be unveiled in the garden of the building, made by local artist Óscar Aldonza, that will remember Valiña. In addition, the documentary "Elías Valiña. The inventor of the yellow arrows", directed by Aser Álvarez, will be screened. With this tribute, the Cathedral of Santiago wants to pay grateful memory to Elías Valiña, one of the great promoters of the recovery of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela at the end of the 20th century. The tribute will also include a small musical moment, and will be broadcast through the podcast channel "La flecha amarilla".

Elías Valiña Sampedro was a priest and theologian, parish priest in O Cebreiro, from his ordination in 1957 until his death in 1989. He dedicated a large part of his life to the care and study of the Jacobean pilgrimages, becoming one of the main architects of the recovery of the Camino de Santiago. His concern focused not only on the dissemination of the Camino, but also on the care and attention to the pilgrim, promoting the creation of hostels and reception spaces. He held the position of Commissioner of the Camino de Santiago, and edited the magazine «Boletín del Camino de Santiago», converted shortly afterwards into the magazine «Peregrino», which is still published today by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Camino de Santiago. He also took charge of the signposting of the Camino, being the first to paint the already historic yellow arrows, a symbol known worldwide today

I am delighted to hear his work is being celebrated. I have his guide book. The first book I read about the Camino many years ago. I hope to catch the broadcast. Thank you

 

[Pelegrin]

The Camino Frances goes near the hamlet where he was born called Mundín between Samos and Sarria.

 

[JerryStroebele]

Tribute to Fr. Elias Valina in Sarria:

 

[rappahannock_rev]

I have his guide book. The first book I read about the Camino many years ago.

Is this the book? I found and purchased a copy in a small bookstore near the Jaca Cathedral when I did the Aragones in 2018. "Primera Edicion, Segunda reimpresion.... Texto y mapas: Elias Valina Sampedro." No publication date shown, oddly enough, but I'd guess a date somewhere in the 1980s.... It's fun to study the maps to see how Camino routes have changed since then -- and they have, in many places!

 

[Bradypus]

I am delighted to hear his work is being celebrated. I have his guide book. The first book I read about the Camino many years ago. I hope to catch the broadcast. Thank you

I used his guide book for my first two Caminos. A copy which he had signed for my mother-in-law at the end of her own Camino in 1985. Sadly Don Elias died a few months before I reached O Cebreiro but it was a tangible connection for me at the time.

 

[grayland]

It would be interesting to see some of the obvious changes to the route....especially if you could post a copy of the 1980s map.

 

[David Tallan]

Is this the book? I found and purchased a copy in a small bookstore near the Jaca Cathedral when I did the Aragones in 2018. "Primera Edicion, Segunda reimpresion.... Texto y mapas: Elias Valina Sampedro." No publication date shown, oddly enough, but I'd guess a date somewhere in the 1980s.... It's fun to study the maps to see how Camino routes have changed since then -- and they have, in many places!

View attachment 181460

I have one very similar, by Elias Valiña Sampedro and team, that I picked up on my 1989 Camino, but it is not spiral bound.

 

[Dave]

Years ago, I was able to get a copy of this early version of his guide, published in 1971:



I also have his later, more polished guide, both in Spanish and English:



I'm away from home for the holiday, or else I'd share some interior shots as well, but there weren't a lot of dramatic route changes involved.

 

[Pelegrin]

This is great news and well deserved. I was curious about the documentary and it appears to be available online, for those of us far from the pilgrim office: https://www.agalega.gal/videos/154989-elias-valina-o-inventor-das-frechas-amarelas

Very interesting video. Thank you. I learnt many things about don Elias that I didn' t know
He was a hard worker and appart from painting arrows and mapping the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles when he arrived as a priest to O Cebreiro in 1958 the village only had " pallozas" as houses without water and electricity and the church building was very bad. He contribuited decisively to improve all of that . He planted a lot of trees around the church that still exist and in public terrains of Pedrafita municipality. In 1985 ( before Fraga Iribarne) he was commanded by the Xunta to organize several actions related to the Camino like creation of Asociaciones, International publicity, etc. According to one of his nephews who speaks on the video, he was in Roncesvalles with don Elias when he chose the yellow colour to mark the Camino de Santiago when he saw there the marks white and red for long distance walks on the Pyrinees and he bought the first paint in a shop. So is not true the version of the Sarria mayor who says on the video that he used leftover paint from road works that was yellow.