This diploma thesis discusses the Slovene Way of St. James, its integration into the cultural area, and the churches dedicated to St. James the Great. The society Društvo prijateljev poti sv. Jakoba was established in 2000 I order to revive the medieval pilgrimage routes, which led to Santiago de Compostela through the Slovene territory. The Slovene Way of St. James was marked based on archival material, archaeological excavations, folk songs and St. James’ churches in Slovenia. The route is inscribed in the European map of Camino de Santiago and is designed as part of the Camino, and not independently. The Way of St. James in Slovenia is well marked, but rather unknown and needs more attention from the media. In the Art History section, the parish church of St. James in Galicija and the succursal church in Ponikve near Velika Dolina are examined; both of the churches are also included in the Slovene Way of St. James. According to churches’ equipment, pilgrimage holy cards, written sources, and archival material, I have established that the church in Galicija was not a place of pilgrimage in the past. On the other hand, the succursal church in Ponikve attracted mainly pilgrims from Croatia and was thus recognized as a pilgrimage church. When including churches of St. James in the route of the Slovene Way of St. James, it was not important whether they were places of pilgrimage or not.
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