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Jesus' apostle's tomb unearthed in Turkey
19:51 - 29.07.11
An Italian professor has announced the apparent discovery of the tomb
of St. Philip, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, at the ancient city of
Hierapolis in the Aegean province of Denizli, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.
The discovery of the grave of the biblical saint, who was killed by
the Romans 2,000 years ago, will attract immense attention around the
world, said Francesco D'Andria. St. Philip, one of the 12 apostles,
came to Hierapolis 2,000 years ago to spread the Christianity before
being killed by the Romans, the professor said.
D'Andria has been leading archeological excavations at the ancient
city for 32 years.
"Until recently, we thought the grave of St. Philip was on Martyrs'
Hill, but we discovered no traces of him in the geophysical research
conducted in that area. A month ago, we discovered the remnants of an
unknown church, 40 meters away from the St. Philip Church on Martyrs'
Hill. And in that church we discovered the grave of St. Philip," said
D'Andria.
D'Andria and his team have not opened the grave but are planning to do so soon.
"St. Philip is considered a martyr. In fact, the church built in his
name on the Martyrs' Hill is, for this reason, also called Martyrion,
despite the fact there were no traces of the grave of St. Philip. As
we were cleaning out the new church we discovered a month ago, we
finally found the grave," said he.
"With close examination, we determined that the grave had been moved
from its previous location in the St. Philip Church to this new church
in the fifth century, during the Byzantine era. We are extremely happy
and proud to have discovered the grave of a saint whose name appears
in the bible - this surely is an important discovery for religious
tourism, archaeology and Christendom," the professor added.
Tert.am
19:51 - 29.07.11
An Italian professor has announced the apparent discovery of the tomb
of St. Philip, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, at the ancient city of
Hierapolis in the Aegean province of Denizli, Hurriyet Daily News
reported.
The discovery of the grave of the biblical saint, who was killed by
the Romans 2,000 years ago, will attract immense attention around the
world, said Francesco D'Andria. St. Philip, one of the 12 apostles,
came to Hierapolis 2,000 years ago to spread the Christianity before
being killed by the Romans, the professor said.
D'Andria has been leading archeological excavations at the ancient
city for 32 years.
"Until recently, we thought the grave of St. Philip was on Martyrs'
Hill, but we discovered no traces of him in the geophysical research
conducted in that area. A month ago, we discovered the remnants of an
unknown church, 40 meters away from the St. Philip Church on Martyrs'
Hill. And in that church we discovered the grave of St. Philip," said
D'Andria.
D'Andria and his team have not opened the grave but are planning to do so soon.
"St. Philip is considered a martyr. In fact, the church built in his
name on the Martyrs' Hill is, for this reason, also called Martyrion,
despite the fact there were no traces of the grave of St. Philip. As
we were cleaning out the new church we discovered a month ago, we
finally found the grave," said he.
"With close examination, we determined that the grave had been moved
from its previous location in the St. Philip Church to this new church
in the fifth century, during the Byzantine era. We are extremely happy
and proud to have discovered the grave of a saint whose name appears
in the bible - this surely is an important discovery for religious
tourism, archaeology and Christendom," the professor added.
Tert.am