There are Chickens in the Church at Santo Domingo

Chickens in the Church

If someone told me that I would see chickens in a Church I would have said, "You must be joking." Well, now I can testify that it is indeed true. And there is quite the story behind it.

Santo Domingo to the Rescue

Today's walk was an average one, at least that is what I will discover after a mere 21 km. Even though it was suppose to rain all day, the weather forecast was wrong … though cloudy skies dominate the landscape. After a hearty breakfast, I was on my way to Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

There are a few popular legends associated with this town. But, before we get to the most famous legend, just who was Santo Domingo?

Santo Domingo is Saint Dominic who was born in the nearby town of Viloria de la Rioja. It is said that St. Domingo, born Domingo García in 1019, was from humble beginnings. He heard God's call to ministry and, as was the custom in the 1000s, he wanted to become a monk. However, the monastery at San Millán did not want to accept this illiterate.

The monastery's lost become the pilgrims' gain. Santo Domingo built a pilgrims hospital, a church (now the cathedral), he also cared for and built many other building, bridges, and cleared the road. All this in service to God and for those who Walk the Way.

Chickens to the Rescue

Now we get to the chicken story. It is said that a German family of three, a father and mother and son named Hugonell, were on their pilgrim journey to Santiago. In Santo Domingo they stopped and stayed with a farmer. The farmer had a daughter who tried to seduce Hugonell. However, Hugonell took his pilgrimage very serious and refused the farmer's daughter's advances. She did not appreciate his piety and hid silver coins in his pack. When the family continued on their Way to Santiago, the farmer's daughter called the authorities who found the 'stolen silver coins' in Hugonell's pack. Hugonell was found guilty of theft and hanged.

His grief-stricken parents continued to Santiago. On their return, they stopped at Santo Domingo to see their beloved son's remains. In those days thieves were left to rot on the gallows as a warning to others. Imagine their surprise when they found their son was still alive. They claimed that Santo Domingo held Hugonell so that he did not die.

The parents went to find the magistrate and asked him to cut down their son from the gallows, as he was clearly innocent of the crime. The magistrate was just sitting down for a meal-a hearty chicken dinner-and said, "Why, he is no more alive than this roasted chicken I am about to eat." Just as the words escaped his very mouth, the chicken stood up from his plate, miraculously brought back to life feathers and all, and crowed. The miracle was not lost on the magistrate, Hugonell was cut down and received a full pardon.

In memory of this story, life chickens are kept in the cathedral, even to this day.

Story behind the Story

I know, we may chuckle at the story of the lad being alive after so many days, let alone a roasted chicken coming alive after being roasted. Perhaps, we should ask, "What is the story behind the story?" As I think about Santo Domingo, I would say that God has a plan for you and no one will dampen your service to God's people. When I think about the Chicken and Hugonell, doesn't the story tell us that innocence triumphs-the truth will set you free?

My journey on the Camino de Santiago started in September 2017. At the time I wrote blogged entries with pictures whenever I could. Now, three years later, it is time to revisit the journey; I am re-posting the entries with a few updates. Enjoy.