Category:Relics of Paul (subject)

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According to Christian traditions, Relics of Paul are preserved in Rome, Italy, notably, at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

< Life of Paul  : Paul's Early Life -- Paul Persecuting the Church -- Conversion of Paul -- Paul's First Missionary Journey -- Council of Jerusalem -- Incident at Antioch -- Paul's Second Missionary Journey -- Paul's Third Missionary Journey -- Paul's Last Visit to Jerusalem -- Paul in Caesarea -- Paul's Journey to Rome -- Paul in Rome -- Martyrdom of Paul -- Relics of Paul >

Overview

The Tomb of Paul

According to Christian tradition, Paul was buried in Rome, Italy along the Ostiense Way, about two miles away from the place of his martyrdom; see Martyrdom of Paul. A tropaeum was erected on his tomb and quickly became a place of veneration. On the site the Emperor Constantine built a basilica that was extended by Theodosius and grew to become the sanctuary known as the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

The traditions also says that during the 4th century the remains of Paul were put into a sarcophagus except his head, which was moved to the Basilica of St John in Lateran (see below). A marble inscription on the floor of the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls marks the place where the sarcophagus was buried. Excavations conducted in 2006 have confirmed the presence of a sarcophagus beneath the main altar, which however was neither extracted nor opened.

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  Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura

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  The sarcophagus beneath the main altar

The Head of Paul

A reliquary of the Head of Paul is housed at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, together with the Head of Peter, at the Main Altar.

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  The Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy

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  The Main Altar with the reliquaries of the heads of Paul and Peter

External links

• [ Wikipedia]