Posted on 12/07/2006 11:08:06 AM PST by TaraP
How will they be able to determine if the remains are indeed those of the Apostle Paul?
I believe because he was the only Aposotle there at that time.
Pretty easy, really. The thorn in the side will be a dead giveaway...
It bothers me greatly that one would verate the skeletal remains of a human. One should only venerate the one who rose from the dead, Christ.
DNA? /whimsy
Are there any relics of his around?
"It bothers me greatly that one would verate the skeletal remains of a human."
Would that apply to 'Skull & Bones' too? :-)
I believe because he was the only Aposotle there at that time.
Peter was (supposed to have been) killed in Rome about the same time as Paul.
Given that the sarcophagos could turn out to be dated to hundreds of years after Paul's death, then it is highly likely we will never be able to prove it beyond all doubt.
Not that it will stop millions of people believing it to be him.
Interesting discovery nonetheless.
It's kind of like having a autographed ball from your favorite baseball player....saints don't tend to sign baseballs though.
why would this have been burried in the first place?
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I have to ask this, as it always bothers me how (apparently) non-Catholics are always "bothered" by "veneration".
Do you venerate George Washington? Abraham Lincoln? John Kennedy?
Are there not tombs to visit? Are there not monuments that even literally represent these people for the public to see and remember? And they are not even religious figures.
Is it OK to "venerate" them but not great religious leaders?
There's another thread full of that stuff.
Why don't we save this one for discussion of archaeology?
There was a fire in the early 1800s ... when they rebuilt the place, they were apparently in a bit of a hurry. They filled in the crypt (dumb, but they didn't ask me) and built the main altar over it.
It does seem bizzare to me that if they felt it was the final resting place of St Paul they wouldn't have immeadiatly set to work trying to restore it (its not like Catholics suddenly forgot they generally hold relics of Saints in high esteem...) Still (as an Orthodox Christian) I'm glad to see them being recovered now.
"Would that apply to 'Skull & Bones' too? :-)"
Only if it's Geronimo's head.... (sarcasm)
From the archaeological point of view, I agree. Very interesting. i just object to the veneration part.
PAUL WAS BEHEADED 65-70
PETER WAS CRUCIFIED 80-85
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