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Interior Cathedral Tour

32. Saint James, Apostle

Chapel of Saint James, Apostle. Valencia Cathedral

Location

Chapel of Saint James, Apostle

Altarpiece

Apparition of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary Artwork by Bernabe Thadeo de Piero de Pone
(late 15th century)

Apparition of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary Mother of God to Saint James the Apostle. Embossed silver and enamelwork.

Apparition of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary Mother of God

Next to the altarpiece

Saint James Oil on canvas
by Evaristo Muñoz,
(18th century)

Saint James (James the Greater) helping the Christians in the Battle of Clavijo.

Saint James (the Greater) helping the Christians in the Battle of Clavijo

As it is detailed in the Gospels, Saint James (also called Santiago) and Saint John, fishers, sons of Zebedee, were called by Jesus in the shore of the lake of Galilee. Due to their vehemence, the Lord called them “sons of thunder”. Saint James was the first apostle to die as a martyr of Christ in Jerusalem. According to the tradition, he preached the Gospel in Spain, where he was encouraged by the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Zaragoza. After his martyrdom, their disciples brought his body to Galicia. There, his sepulchre is worshipped in the city of Santiago de Compostela. It is the end of the Way of Saint James, which covers all central Europe. His feast day is celebrated on 25th of July, and when this date falls on a Sunday, that year is considered as a Jacobean Year. During the Reconquest of Spain, the Christians – especially the Navarrese and the Galician, Leoneses and Castilians – considered Saint James as their protector. Moreover, a legend narrates the Battle of Clavijo (in La Rioja) in the year 844, where the King Ramiro I of Asturias defeated the Muslims with the aid of Saint James the Greater. The Apostle appeared riding a white horse, such as he is portrayed in the painting of this chapel. It deals with a tradition subsequent to the real battle, which took place in Albelda (La Rioja), although the historical records do not mention the apparition of Saint James.

In the attic of the altarpiece

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Oil on table
unknown author
(17th or 18th century)

The main part of the paintings of the attics comes from altarpieces previous to the Neoclassical remodelling of the 18th century.

Sepulchral urn on the left

Sepulchre

Sepulchre of the third Bishop of Valencia, Brother Andres de Albalat O.P. (Dominican), who put the first stone of the Cathedral in this place in the year 1262. He died in Viterbo (Italy) in 1276.

Sepulchral urn on the right

Sepulchre

Sepulchre of the infant Mr Alfonso of Aragon, first-born of the king Mr James I the Conqueror and his first wife. It is covered with the Royal Arms of Aragon.

Above the altar

Small altarpiece of the Holy FamilyAnonymous,
(16th century)

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January at Valencia Cathedral

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Cultural Visit

From 1 January to 30 June
and from 1 October to 31 December

From Monday to Friday, from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Sundays from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM (last entry: Monday to Friday at 5:30 PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 PM)

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Museum

From 1 January to 31 December

The Valencia Cathedral Museum is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and on Sundays and public holidays from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM or from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, depending on the application of winter or summer hours.

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Bell Tower "Miguelete"

From 1 December to 28 February

The bell tower “el Miguelete” is open in autumn-winter (from December 1 to February 28) Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM.

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Masses

From 1 January to 30 June
and from 1 October to 31 December

Winter season schedule: Sundays and holidays at 8:00, 8:45, 9:30 (sung), 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 19:00, and 20:00 h.; Monday to Friday at 8:00, 8:45, 9:30 (sung), 19:00, and 20:00 h.; Saturdays at 8:00, 8:45, 9:30 (sung), 18:00, 19:00, and 20:00 h.

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Pastoral Office

From 1 January to 30 June
and from 1 October to 31 December

The pastoral office opens on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Fridays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

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Valencia Cathedral Archive

From 1 January to 31 December

The archive is open in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, and on Wednesdays also in the afternoon from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and is open from September 15 to July 15.

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Special Celebrations

  • Solemnity of Saint Vincent the Martyr
    January 22.

Pious Exercises

  • Major Exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament
    Every Thursday at 7:30 PM, from October to June.
  • Thursday of the Holy Chalice
    Every Thursday at 7:45 PM, except on Holy Thursday and from July 1 to September 15.
  • Saturday Greeting
    Every Saturday, at 7:30 PM

Cathedral Choir

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Events and schedules are subject to change without notice.