Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Archaeologists Uncover John the Baptist Relics in Bulgaria's Sozopol - Report
Sofia News Agency ^ | 7/29/2010

Posted on 07/31/2010 2:22:05 PM PDT by markomalley


Bulgaria: Archaeologists Uncover John the Baptist Relics in Bulgaria's Sozopol - Report

St. John the Baptist. Detail from an icon at Gračanica monastery in Kosovo. Image by Pravoslavieto.com

Parts of St. John the Baptist's relics might have been discovered during archaeological excavations in Bulgaria's southern Black Sea town of Sozopol, report Bulgarian media.

Archaeologists investigating the Sv. Ivan (St. John) island off Sozopol have found an exquisite reliquary – a relic urn – built in the altar of an ancient church bearing the name of St. John the Baptist

The reliquary has the shape of a sarcophagus and is dated end of 4th - beginning of 5th c. AD. It was discovered by the team of Prof. Kazimir Popkonstantinov.

The church's name, as well as the fact that it had a special emperor's statute issued, has hinted to archeologists that it might actually contain St. John's relics. The urn is expected to be opened Sunday.

St. John the Baptist - called also the Forerunner - is an imposing figure in the Christian New Testament. He was the last to prophecize the coming of Jesus Christ - and the one to baptize the young Jesus in the river Jordan. The great prophet died a martyr's death beheaded by king Herod at the request of his daughter Salome.

According to the Bible, St. John the Forerunner prophesized about Christ thus: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire" (Matthew 3:11).

St. John the Baptist is especially venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. Over the centuries, there have been controversies about where his relics are located.

The town of Sozopol is one of the most ancient on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, dating from the Bronze age. It was colonized by Greeks, headed by philosopher Anaximander, around 610 BC. Sozopol became an early Christian centre with its own bishop. For most of the Middle Ages, it was part of the Byzantine empire.


TOPICS: History; Religion
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs

1 posted on 07/31/2010 2:22:07 PM PDT by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; NYer; kosta50; Salvation; narses

You might be interested in this.


2 posted on 07/31/2010 2:23:05 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

a small bit of history, his followers used the skull and cross bones as their symbol.

It did not start with pirates.


3 posted on 07/31/2010 2:29:05 PM PDT by edcoil (There has got to be a better way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: edcoil
a small bit of history, his followers used the skull and cross bones as their symbol.

Please take a look at the pics on this thread. You might see some more original (pre-pirate) usage.

4 posted on 07/31/2010 2:30:54 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I have always personally revered John the Baptist. No mealy-mouthed politico he.


5 posted on 07/31/2010 2:32:09 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (He promised hope; he gave us hype. He promised change; he gave us chains!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Yes, I know. I know the history of the symbol I was hoping people would learn something new. When I tell people they don’t believe me.


6 posted on 07/31/2010 2:35:19 PM PDT by edcoil (There has got to be a better way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Fascinating....


7 posted on 07/31/2010 2:37:25 PM PDT by Bad~Rodeo (Need to renew your non-immigrant visa? You need to go back home first)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Wonderful post!


8 posted on 07/31/2010 2:46:16 PM PDT by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

dem bones dem bones dem dry bones....


9 posted on 07/31/2010 3:03:42 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
According to the Bible, St. John the Forerunner prophesized about Christ thus: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire" (Matthew 3:11).

I just noticed something amazing about this story and this Bible passage. It has to do with the timely appearance of these SJTB relics at the proper time right before what many Christians believe is Jesus' Second Coming. John's once again performing his great function to alert the people that Jesus is coming soon.

Now look at the Bible verse, if you won't be filled with the Holy Spirit then the alternative would be your destruction by fire! Exactly what the Bible says will happen at the end of this age.

10 posted on 07/31/2010 3:32:13 PM PDT by STD (SoftTyranny Until He Cracks the Whip)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I always get a kick out of the fact that the Orthodox churches revere the first Baptist.


11 posted on 07/31/2010 4:23:39 PM PDT by Guyin4Os (A messianic ger-tsedek)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·

 
Gods
Graves
Glyphs
Thanks markomalley. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
 

·Dogpile · Archaeologica · Mirabilis.ca · LiveScience · Biblical Archaeology Society ·
· Discover · Bronze Age Forum · Science Daily · Science News · Eurekalert · PhysOrg ·
· Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google ·
· Archaeology · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·
· History topic · history keyword · archaeology keyword · paleontology keyword ·
· Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword · ·


12 posted on 08/01/2010 6:24:07 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson