The Story
Spanish Professor Receives Spain's Highest Cultural Honor
Professor Greenia has received a prestigious cultural honor from Spain. Courtesy of University Relations and George Greenia.
George Greenia, professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, was awarded The Cross of Isabel the Catholic, Spain’s highest cultural achievement distinction for foreign nationals, on Oct. 11.
The Cross was given to Greenia for his research in the field of Spanish pilgrimages.
He received the award in a special ceremony that was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Spain’s ambassador to the United States, Carlos Westendorp. Given by the king of Spain, the award can be likened to France’s Legion of Honor.
The medal itself is a sight to behold. Representing a union of the old and new, it is forged from gold and enamel. The Cross portrays two globes, the Old and New Worlds during the age of exploration, and two pillars, which signify the Strait of Gibraltar, a connection between the two worlds.
The award was bestowed on Greenia for his focus on Spanish culture. Some of his studies have focused on Spanish pilgrimages. As part of his work with the College, Greenia guides a group of students on a trip on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in northern Spain. This path is one of the most popular pilgrimages taken in the world, attracting nearly a quarter of a million people annually. The pilgrimage leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where the remains of the apostle Saint James the Great are presumably buried.
The pilgrimage route has had significant cultural importance for thousands of years. During the Middle Ages, pilgrims returned home with a scallop shell as proof of their journey. This shell came to be something of a status symbol.
Prof. Greenia explained, “Jerusalem being a war zone and Rome being more for affluent people, Camino de Santiago attracted many people all throughout medieval Europe.” This was one of the three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned. In the Catholic faith, an indulgence is a pardon from punishment in the afterlife for sins confessed in the current life.
Every five years, Prof. Greenia organizes a reunion in Williamsburg for those who have made the pilgrimage.
“On the Camino, there are all kinds of time for silence, and there are all kinds of time for conversation,” Greenia explained. “They seem to be the dominant experiences. People take the time to reflect. People come back with all kinds of memories of conversations they’ve had.”
Greenia’s work in Spanish culture is not limited to pilgrimages. Additionally, he is the editor of the journal La Corónica, Editor of American Pilgrim, a magazine of public scholarship on pilgrimage studies, and co-Editor of a three volume encyclopedia of Castilian writers. The professor has been with the College since 1982.
“For William and Mary, [this award] has been a great educational contribution,” Greenia said. “It really is a William and Mary award in every way.”
The Cross was originally given by Spanish royalty to military officers serving in the New World. Today, it is awarded to foreign nationals who have made it their lifetime goal to educate others about Spanish culture. All recipients are also granted with the title of “comendador” or Commander of the Order of the Cross of Isabel the Catholic. Other recipients of the Cross this year included Spanish professor David Geiss from the University of Virginia.
The distinction is awarded only once a year, and some years none are given at all. Nominations are made by the ambassador of Spain and are approved by Spain’s state department and the U.S. State Department before finally being approved by Spanish King Juan Carlos I, who is the Master of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
“It’s pretty stunning news since this is an honor that’s existed for over 200 years in Spain and they give it to foreign nationals very selectively,” said Greenia. “There’s lot of people working in this area, so the first thing you think of is, ‘Wait a minute. I can name 30 or 40 people who deserve this more than me.’ But when they tell you they want to give this to you, you don’t say no.”
“This is one of those mythic awards,” Greenia stated. “This is the high point for anybody’s career in my field,” he said. “I’m still 10 years away from retirement, but this will be the high point of my career.”