Discovered the ancient portrait of St. Paul

Vatican archaeologists found a mural thought to portray St. Paul's face with many wrinkles and 'massive' beard.

Archaeologists have published this oldest portrait of St. Paul, on the occasion of St. Paul and Saint Peter.

The portrait is found in the grave of St. Thekla, a disciple of St. Paul, who was "suicide" under the Diacletian Empire, in a crypt below Rome. With the help of laser technology, portraits are cleaned of dirt, clay and limestone clinging to centuries.

The portrait is said to be the oldest image of St. Paul.

According to Barbara Mazzei, project director of the tomb excavation, the portrait of St. Paul was born around the 4th century. 'It is easy to see that the style of this photo is consistent with the way it is recorded. 4th century photos, a thin face with dark beard. This is a very significant finding, ' she said.

Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, Vatican Secretary of Culture, said: 'This is an amazing discovery and has confirmed the imprints of the Christian church nearly 2,000 years ago. It plays an important mental role, as well as great value in art and history. '

St. St. ChurchPaul is famous for his sword statue.

In 2006, Vatican archaeologists unearthed a stone sarcophagus believed to contain St. Paul's remains, located just below St. Paul's church. This stone sarcophagus comes from at least 390 AD.

St. Paul's Church is the second largest church in Rome, Italy, just behind St.Peter's Church in the Vatican, famous for its statue of St. Paul holding a sword standing in the garden.

At the present location of the church there were two ancient churches that were handed down as the place to bury St. Paul. The second church was built in the 4th century, under the Roman emperor Theodosius, on the old church background. At that time, this stone coffin is still visible, first floating and then taken to the crypt. A fire destroyed the church in 1823. The newly built church covered the ancient tomb.

Although he was also called the Apostle, St.Paul was not among the first 12 disciples of Jesus. St. Paul was the one who traveled a lot in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome in the first century. St. Paul is said to have been beheaded by Roman Emperor Nero in 65 AD.