Brian John Skillen's Blog

 

 

“A chill ran through Isabella’s body. She bit her lip and refocused on the Arc of San Anton. Its fortified walls were a beacon of hope in an otherwise dark night.” – The Way: Through a Field of Stars.

Have you ever seen something so amazing it changed your life in an instant?  

In 2017, I took an epic pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. I saw many amazing things, but when I first saw the Arc of San Anton, I knew my life would never be the same. To me, it looked like something that could only exist in a movie or a novel. Stepping through that Arc was like stepping into another world. Something about me and my life changed as I emerged on the other side.

 If you want to see my actual reaction check out the video below. 

 I didn’t know it then, but that was a defining moment for me as a person. I didn’t know that after stepping through the Arc of San Anton, I would  hang up my dance shoes and trade them in for a story. I didn’t know that I would face one of my biggest fears and achieve something that I thought was impossible… 

(Below is a little history about the Arc of San Anton. I will continue this story in my next post). 

The Arc of San Anton was founded in 1146 under the patronage of King Alfonso VI. It was formerly the main Preceptory of the Antonian monks in Spain. This order was dedicated to the care of pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago and to cure those who suffered from the “Fire of San Anton,” a disease that spread during the Middle Ages because of an undetected fungus that grew on grains. The monks helped pilgrims and were conferred with the Cross of Tau, a sign of protection against evil. 

The Cross of Tau is a symbol also associate with the Knights Templar. According to a local source, The Arc of San Anton was also once one of five Knights Templar Commanderies associated with the town of Castrojeriz.

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