Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Apostle images from 4th century found under street in Italy


Upon the discovery of the sarcophagus and its bone fragments dated almost 2000 years old to be that of St. Paul’s mortal remains, the colleagues of the scientists responsible in the archaeological site beneath the main altar of St. Paul Basilica outside the walls has also stumbled upon an image on a different archaeological site, believed to be the earliest and most accurate images of Sts. Peter and Paul, frescoed on the walls of the Catacombs of Saint Tecla. Below are the pictures of the said images which was discovered just recently:

A restorer uses a laser to reveal an image that Vatican archaeologists believe is the oldest one of St Paul the Apostle, dating from the late fourth century, on the walls of a catacomb beneath Rome in this undated photo released June 29, 2009. Experts of the Ponitifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology made the discovery on June 19 in the Catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome and describe it as the “oldest icon in history dedicated to the cult of the Apostle”, according to the Vatican newspaper. Peter and Paul are revered by Christians as the greatest early missionaries. Converting on the road to Damascus following a blinding vision of Jesus, Paul took the Gospel to pagan Greeks and Romans and met his martyrdom in Rome in about 65 AD.

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