The Largest Censer in the World | The Botafumeiro of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Spain

The Censer/Thurible of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the largest in the world and is called the Botafumeiro. The Basilica of Santiago de Compostela is one of only three Catholic Basilicas in the entire world where the mortal remains of the Apostles of Christ remain, the other two being St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and Sathome Cathedral in India. But the body of this blessed apostle is not the only treasure that this Basilica houses. There is also the “Botafumeiro”, a famous thurible used at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. It is the biggest thurible in the whole world and derives its name from the Galician language, where botar means “to throw away or to expel", and the Latin fume, which means "smoke”. So the purpose of the botafumeiro is to expel any malignant spirits from the Church with the use of Blessed Incense as a sacramental.
History:
Tradition has it that the use of a swinging thurible in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral began in the 11thcentury. Pilgrims who walked the Camino de Santiago were obviously tired and unwashed by the end of their pilgrimage. So, they were incensed so as to purify them in a spiritual sense. Since blessed incense is a sacramental, the faithful also employed it for its curative effects at the time of plagues and epidemics. It is important to note that Incense burning was most importantly an integral part of the Liturgy, being in itself a "prayer to God".
In the 15th century, the monarch of France King Louis XI (1423-1483) donated money to the cathedral to replace their medieval thurible, which was made of silver. A new silver thurible was put into service in 1554. Unfortunately, this ornate vessel was stolen by Napoleon's troops in April, 1809, during an episode in the Spanish Civil War. After 155 years of use, the Botafumeiro was restored in early 2006 by artisans and craftsmen working under Luis Molina Acedo.
Many other cathedrals in Spain followed suit with the use of large thuribles at one point. However, most of them discontinued the use of their swinging censers over the years.
The mechanics behind the Botafumeiro is rather fascinating. The large thurible is suspended by means of a system of pulleys from the main dome of the Cathedral and swings toward the side naves. It weighs almost 80kgs when fully loaded and measures 1.50 metres; it hangs from a height of 20 metres and can pick up great speed.
The Botafumeiro is carried and swung by eight men in red robes, called tiraboleiros. The term tiraboleiro is a Galician derivation from the Latin word turifer, which means 'incense bearer, and from which is derived the English equivalent, thurifer is derived.
The current Botafumeiro, made in 1851, is composed of an alloy of brass and bronze, and is plated by a very thin 20-micrometre layer of silver. It is normally on display in the library of the cathedral, but for certain important religious occasions, it is brought to the floor of the cathedral and attached to a rope hung from the pulley mechanism. The incensory can reach high speeds of up to 60 km/h as it dispenses thick clouds of incense to the marvel of those assisting the ceremonies. This ritual has been taking place since at least the 12th century.
The Botafumeiro is employed during public worship during the following solemnities : The Epiphany of the Lord, Easter Sunday, Ascension of Our Lord, 23rd May: Apparition of the Apostle James, Pentecost Sunday, 15th August the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, 1st of November: All Saints’ Day, Feast of Christ the King, 8th December: Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 25th December: Christmas Day, 30th December: Arrival of the Holy Apostle James to Spain and 25th July, that is today, the Feast of Saint James.

[@unamsanctamecclesiam1982]

Very informative video! Thanks for sharing

[@noahjoseph8192]

India is big enough for many, many like this.

[@rajinistephen3930]

Simply amazing, I wish we had one in India. Thank you dear Br Shaun

[@MUSTANGS71]

T U FOR THIS AWESOME INFORMATION 🙏🛐🙌

[@stephani3]

Glory to God! 😃

[@paddyearly]

Thank you for such an interesting thorough explanation of this historical senser🙏

[@nicaragusa]

🙏✝️🙏Amen.✝️🙏✝️ Thank you very much - M o C. I have subscribed. You are doing a great job. ✝️🕊✝️

[@MarvelsofChristendom]

Thanks and welcome

[@brunol-p_g8800]

The Cathedral of Santiago is a Cathedral, not a Basilica. As for Basilicas, there are much more than 3 in the entire world, there are more than 20….

[@MarvelsofChristendom]

@brunol-p_g8800 I strongly urge you to pay attention to what's being said in the video instead of leaving a mindless comment after listening to the information halfheartedly. It is clearly mentioned that the Cathedral is one of ONLY 3 Basilicas WHERE THE BODY OF AN APOSTLE IN INTERRED, NOT one of only 3 Basilicas OVERALL. Now, coming to your claim that it is not a Basilica, I would direct you to the official page of the Archcathedral of Santiago de Compostela, WHICH IS ALSO A BASILICA, which says this: "In 1211 the Basilica was consecrated before Alfonso IX."
Official Website: catedraldesantiago.es/en/cathedral/#history
A short Wikipedia search would have sufficed to prove your ignorance: "The Santiago de Compostela Archcathedral Basilica (Spanish and Galician: Catedral Basilica de Santiago de Compostela) is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela and is an integral component of the Santiago de Compostela World Heritage Site in Galicia, Spain."
Wiki source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela_Cathedral
Next time, kindly refrain from talking authoritatively on things that you are not aware of. Godspeed!