[NYer]

Catholic / Orthodox ping!

[freedumb2003]

I saw a History (International?) Channel on St. Peter’s Basilica as part of coverage of Pope Francis and “hidden Vatican.”

It was extremely fascinating to say the least. I would go as far as to say riveting.

[skeeter]

I didn’t know all the apostles’ remains but Judas are accounted for.

[svcw]

I had an opportunity to go to several of the Roma churches....my favorite was Paul’s church.
It is simply beautiful, I was sad so few people were visiting but that allowed us to see the incredible artwork up close.
Very interesting chart, that is a keeper.

[Rumplemeyer]

bump

[detective]

It is interesting how they were tortured and murdered. And what they built survives to this day.

It is a reminder that Christians must be prepared to stand up for their faith even when threatened.

[onyx]

Saving.
Thanks very much for this posting.

[Trod Upon]

How do they verify their claims? Sure, the church has a tradition and there's somebody buried in the various locations, but how can they say with certainty "this is the Mathias," etc.? Are there known descendants to test against or some obvious indicia of authenticity?

[kidd]

Very interesting.
Only one died a natural death.

[Steelfish]

Thanks. Informative and interesting post!

[bunkerhill7]

Where`s St. John the Baptist?
Where`s St. Mark? Where`s St. Barnabas? Where`s St. Luke?

?

[Verbosus]

Interesting.
I never thought about the remains.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[Verginius Rufus]

A church in Patras, Greece (Ayios Andreas), claims to have the head of St. Andrew, along with portions of the cross he was crucified on. It was returned by Pope Paul VI after being taken to Italy in 1460 by Thomas Palaiologos. A rival tradition says the relics of St. Andrew had been taken to Scotland much earlier than that.

A church in Heraklion, Crete, claims to have the head of St. Titus, the associate of St. Paul.

[DFG]

bookmark

[Joe 6-pack]

If one can suppress the gag reflex long enough to try a Martin Sheen movie, I can highly recommend, The Way

. The story unfolds during a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which houses the remains of St. James. The physical journey takes on a spiritual component for all the parties involved. It's not an overtly Catholic, or even, "religious" film per se, and yet, IMHO, most any one watching it will end up reflecting on the direction their life is taking and how they set their priorities (and by extension, the role relics and tradition can play in that capacity).

It's not a perfect film, but a very good and accessible story for persons at most any level of spiritual development.

Just my $0.02.

[escapefromboston]

John really lucked out compared to the rest

[annalex]

"Crucified" doesn't quite describe it for Bartholomew.

The manner of his death, said to have occurred at Albanopolis in Armenia, is equally uncertain; according to some, he was beheaded, according to others, flayed alive and crucified, head downward, by order of Astyages, for having converted his brother, Polymius, King of Armenia. On account of this latter legend, he is often represented in art (e.g. in Michelangelo's Last Judgment) as flayed and holding in his hand his own skin. His relics are thought by some to be preserved in the church of St. Bartholomew-in-the-Island, at Rome. His feast is celebrated on 24 August. An apocryphal gospel of Bartholomew existed in the early ages.

[Lancey Howard]

Wow. Only one natural death out of 14.
Wait. 14?