Posted on 08/12/2005 9:53:12 AM PDT by jb6
Bishkek, August 9, Interfax – Kirghiz archeologists have discovered ruins of the Armenian monastery in which St. Matthews may have been buried, at eastern side of Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of the country.
Local mass media have reported Tuesday, citing the leader of the archeological expedition Vladimir Ploskikh, that the ruins of the monastery have been discovered near the village of Tiuf, on the land surrounded by water from three sides, though they had searched for them underwater. The ruins are concealed inside a large loam hill.
The search for the Armenian monastery in which, according to tradition, St. Matthews was buried began in 2000, prompted by information received from various sources, including the notes of Russian traveler Petr Semenov Tian-Shansky.
There is a legend that St. Matthews at the end of his life went to India but died on his way there somewhere in Kirghizia, having had time though to found several Christian communities.
Kirghiz archeologists together with explorers from Russia and Germany intend to continue their search for the burial place of St. Matthews at the spot where the ruins of the Armenian monastery have been discovered.
Ping.
Have you heard anything of Matthew being buried there before?
Or the tradition of Matthew's relics being there?
What was those guys were saying about the Dark Ages never hitting the Eastern Empire?
Matthews? They really boggled that name, didn't they?
My friend's daughter served in the Peace Corps there for 2 years, and I don't think she ever reported any Christian influence in the area.
I thought it was St. Thomas who made his way to India...
Armenia is one of the oldest Christian countries on earth. Christianity became the kingdoms state religion in 306 AD
Armenia is a long way from India.
The whole region was Christian until the Turks arrived and converted to Islam.
Armenia was the first country in the whole world to adopt Christianity as the state religion. Armenians have a "quarter" in Jerusalem, and were key guardians of Christian sites and relics there for several centuries when few other Christians were left in the city. It would not be surprising at all for them to have a relic of this kind. The country is over 98% Christian, that's one of the highest percentages in the world.
It's even a long walk from Bishek, Kyrgyzstan, too...about 1500 air miles.
But this is not Armenia -- this is Bishkek.
No, and it isn't in the early church histories I have.
I wonder why this article spells the name Matthews.
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