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Vatican archaeologists unearth St. Paul's tomb
Pravda ^ | December 6, 2006

Posted on 12/06/2006 6:18:21 AM PST by NYer

Vatican archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul that had been buried beneath Rome's second largest basilica. The sarcophagus, which dates back to at least 390 A.D., has been the subject of an extended excavation that began in 2002 and was completed last month, the project's head said this week.

"Our objective was to bring the remains of the tomb back to light for devotional reasons, so that it could be venerated and be visible," said Giorgio Filippi, the Vatican archaeologist who headed the project at St. Paul Outside the Walls basilica.

The interior of the sarcophagus has not yet been explored, but Filippi didn't rule out the possibility of doing so in the future.

Two ancient churches that once stood at the site of the current basilica were successively built over the spot where tradition said the saint had been buried. The second church, built by the Roman emperor Theodosius in the fourth century, left the tomb visible, first above ground and later in a crypt.

When a fire destroyed the church in 1823, the current basilica was built and the ancient crypt was filled with earth and covered by a new altar.

"We were always certain that the tomb had to be there beneath the papal altar," Filippi told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Filippi said that the decision to make the sarcophagus visible again was taken after many pilgrims who came to Rome during the Catholic Church's 2000 Jubilee year expressed disappointment at finding that the saint's tomb could not be visited or touched.

The findings of the project will be officially presented during a news conference at the Vatican on Monday.


TOPICS: Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: apostlepaul; archaeology; catholic; christianity; godsgravesglyphs; paul; relics; romancatholicism; rome; saintpaul; stpaul; vatican
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To: Cap'n Crunch
If you don't know what the church teaches, haven't read it, how can you make a decision? That's pretty ignorant.

Wrong! I'm replying to what you say the church teaches. So what you're really saying is that you can be ignored. Ok.

361 posted on 12/06/2006 2:46:03 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: eastsider
The practice of venerating the saints and their relics is indeed apolostic, and it is attested by Scripture.

I think St. Jerome expressed it best when, writing in the fourth century, he said:

We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore him whose martyrs they are.

Of course, Jerome is best known for translating the Scriptures from the ancient languages into Latin, the most widely-spoken language in West at the time, so that more people could have access to them. A mere twelve centuries before the KJV ...

Benedictus Deus in angelis suis et in sanctis suis.

"Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints." Amen.

It's a pity that Protestants deny the doctrine of the Communion of Saints, one of the elements of the Apostles' Creed, and the underlying theological dispute made manifest here. When all the theorizing is said and done, I'll be glad to have the prayers of this great cloud of witnesses presented to the Father on my behalf at the hour of my death, than to be without them.

362 posted on 12/06/2006 2:46:54 PM PST by neocon (Be not afraid!)
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To: Colofornian

Well, Campion probably got tired of all of us. And rightly so.

I, simpleton, will try to fill in. All catholics know that the prayer is answered by God. We're simply thanking the saint who interceded for us.

Simple as that. "It's a catholic thing, you wouldn't understand." Help yourself, read what the church teaches. Read the history, read the catechism.

If you read it, and don't agree with it, fine.


363 posted on 12/06/2006 2:47:12 PM PST by Cap'n Crunch
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To: Rutles4Ever
Er, the infallible Old Testament itself canonized Elijah and Enoch, and arguably Moses, too.

BTW, people err when they think that "tradition" began with the RC church. For example, canonization is widely meant to mean "confirmation"--to confirm what is already recognized. It doesn't mean identifying & setting apart individuals & books of the Bible...tradition was both an oral & print tradition well before it was ever institutionalized.

364 posted on 12/06/2006 2:47:29 PM PST by Colofornian
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To: Cap'n Crunch; Campion
Well, Campion probably got tired of all of us. And rightly so.

Yeah. Endurance test, eh?

Gotta go for now, too...touch base later.

As I said earlier in this thread: 1 Cor. 1:13: "Is Christ divided?" No. Our baptism is in the same Lord, and I thank Him for all we have in common w/our RC brothers--far more (& of greater import) than we divide over.

365 posted on 12/06/2006 2:50:34 PM PST by Colofornian
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To: AmericaUnited

hahahaha.. exactly. Ignore me. Go read it all for yourself. The catechism is on line. "Catholic answers" is on line. There is a TON of material for you to read, if you have an open mind and are willing to read it for yourself.

Go learn something. What have you got to lose?


366 posted on 12/06/2006 2:50:46 PM PST by Cap'n Crunch
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To: Colofornian
You crafted the canonization of saints to be at such an elevated level, it almost sounds like we're talking about unquestionably pure men of God. And I'm telling you that every one of those saints was a sinner in need of a holy God and a Holy Spirit and a Holy Jesus who saved them and separated them from their sin.

Yes, I think we know that already.

And now that salvation and that separation have been accomplished. They're not sinners any more, they've been cleansed from sin and are perfected in the presence of a holy and righteous God, and Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brothers" (Heb 2:11)

Next ... ???

367 posted on 12/06/2006 2:53:59 PM PST by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Colofornian

Endurance test? Yeah, I suppose so. When it's been pointed out to you and you say "yeah but, yeah but, yeah but." Then go into the "I don't want to bring up the bad popes, or the bad priests, but..."

You just came here to throw some stones. The reasons why we believe what we do were presented to you. If you want to read further, research the catechism, read the writings of the saints.

If you don't agree with it, go your way.


368 posted on 12/06/2006 2:54:09 PM PST by Cap'n Crunch
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To: Cap'n Crunch; Campion
Our baptism is in the same Lord, and I thank Him for all we have in common w/our RC brothers--far more (& of greater import) than we divide over.

Same for me here too. It's fun to cross swords and joust among ourselves from time to time, but we are on the same side of many of the battles raging between the forces of good and evil.

P.S. Great, great Pope! Fantastic choice.

And with that... I'm out of here.

369 posted on 12/06/2006 2:57:20 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: Cap'n Crunch

well, I think I'll stick to police posts. Probably doing more harm than good here.


370 posted on 12/06/2006 3:05:24 PM PST by Cap'n Crunch
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To: GourmetDan

It was the "Reformers" and their arrogant "offspring" who are in error, not Catholics and Orthodox.


371 posted on 12/06/2006 4:00:44 PM PST by Pyro7480 ("Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world." - Pope Blessed Pius IX)
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To: PetroniusMaximus


you wrote: Come on fellow Protestants/Evangelicals, we need to lighten up here. If this is authentic, then it is an AMAZING find and a blessing to all Christians.


Thank you Petronius Maximus for an injection of common sense.


372 posted on 12/06/2006 4:09:23 PM PST by Piers-the-Ploughman (Just say no to circular firing squads.)
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To: NYer

I wonder why America has Veterans Day? Arlington Cemetery? Memorial Day?

I wonder why some place wreathes/flowers at another's grave?

Surely, anyone who partakes in these activities are "heretic worshipers?" /s

Oh, nevermind, it's just another Catholic bashing thread!


373 posted on 12/06/2006 4:21:09 PM PST by ArchA27
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To: AmericaUnited
NO, you are asking more people to go to the head.

Ok, then when we Catholics ask departed saints to pray to God on our behalf, we are simply "asking more people to go to the head".

-A8

374 posted on 12/06/2006 4:27:20 PM PST by adiaireton8 ("There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse." - Plato, Phaedo 89d)
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To: Colofornian
We don't have to. It's called "Reading" (R-e-a-d-i-n-g).

LOVE your post!

375 posted on 12/06/2006 4:30:45 PM PST by ladyinred (RIP my precious Lamb Chop)
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Comment #376 Removed by Moderator

To: PetroniusMaximus
If this is authentic, then it is an AMAZING find and a blessing to all Christians.

Ok, the amazing find part I would agree with 110%, but how is this 'a blessing' to me, a Christian? I'm asking seriously.

377 posted on 12/06/2006 4:44:47 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: AmericaUnited
"Ok, the amazing find part I would agree with 110%, but how is this 'a blessing' to me, a Christian? I'm asking seriously."

Because it is another proof of the reality and veracity of the Scriptures and the Christian faith.

All historical finds that confirm the testimony of Scripture are greatly beneficial the work of apologists, increases believers' awareness that "these things REALLY DID happened" - and therefore blesses the Church as a whole.
378 posted on 12/06/2006 4:54:39 PM PST by PetroniusMaximus
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To: PetroniusMaximus
Because it is another proof of the reality and veracity of the Scriptures and the Christian faith.

I suppose, but as a Christian, I have never, ever doubted that Paul was a real person, and I bet very few other Christians had doubts that he was either. Plus, it is extremely unlikely that there will be some 'smoking gun' proof that this really was Paul's tomb, unlike say some inscription on an Egyptian mummy's tomb.

379 posted on 12/06/2006 5:02:52 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: AmericaUnited; PetroniusMaximus
Plus, it is extremely unlikely that there will be some 'smoking gun' proof that this really was Paul's tomb, unlike say some inscription on an Egyptian mummy's tomb.

Except of course tradition has ALWAYS held that Paul was buried on this site (I believe even Protestants accept this tradition since it has nothing to do with any theological disagreement) AND THE TOMB IS INSCRIPED, "APOSTLE PAUL, MARTYR."

It is beyond me why some here feel that any thread that is remotely related to Catholicism should be used as an advantage to smear Catholics. Christians have always buried their dead, go to any cemetary, those are memorials to PEOPLE, we do not bury our dead in unmarked graves and forget them as the Mohammadens do.

380 posted on 12/06/2006 5:14:25 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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