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Tests 'seem to confirm' remains are of St Paul

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Published Date: 29 June 2009
THE first scientific tests on what are believed to be the remains of Saint Paul "seem to confirm" that they belong to him, Pope Benedict XVI announced last night.
Archaeologists recently unearthed and opened the white marble sarcophagus located under the main altar of the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, which for 2,000 years has been believed by the faithful to be the apostle's tomb.

The Pope said scientists had conducted carbon dating tests on bone fragments in the sarcophagus and confirmed they date from the first or second century.

"This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul," the Pope said.

Meanwhile, Vatican archaeologists have discovered what they believe is the oldest image in existence of St Paul, dating from the late fourth century, on the walls of a catacomb beneath Rome. It is being described as "oldest icon in history dedicated to the cult of the Apostle".



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  • Last Updated: 29 June 2009 12:44 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

,

29/06/2009 06:32:14
Comment Removed By Administrator
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2

Boy Wonder,

29/06/2009 08:56:24
Is anyone around that coild positively ID the man????

I mean the bones aren't exactly going to have his name inscribed on them, are they??

What a load of old tosh!
3

Kenny A,

29/06/2009 09:36:15
Perhaps they are his bones but the Catholic church was bad for the number of relics that appeared over the years as were others. All this proves is it is a man from possibly 2000 years ago. A lot of fackary and hocus pocus going on still. The non decomposing saints, solid blood and fragments of the true cross which would make a reasonable sized forrest.

If the remains are true, good, it in many ways is not important as long as their is belief.

Wish I could have worded this better as I am not anti catholic but find this devotion to the material rather than the spiritual difficult. Even the spear has been proved to date from much later than the crusifiction yet many still believe in it. The shroud of Turin is an other examole.

Saying all that the pope I feel had little choice in what he said.

I hope they are the true remains but we will never know.
4

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

29/06/2009 10:57:22
You can keep your St Pauls...much rather have a good gander at the remains of Pompei and the mummified citizens who attempted to leave but never made it....
5

Pocket Dictionary,

29/06/2009 15:50:15
#4 spot on. Did Paul not tell some people in the Bible to get up and not worship him for he was only human like them? Yet the RCC encourages prayers to saints.

 

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