Excavating the tomb of St. Paul in Rome

It is found that the tomb dates from about 390 AD in a crypt beneath a church in Rome. It is St. Paul's Cathedral, the largest church in Rome after St. Peter's Basilica.

The search in this area began in 2002 and ended last month. It is often said that St. Paul's grave is here, but it has long been hidden behind the altar of the Pope.

St Paul's Cathedral is the largest church in Rome (Photo: BBC)

For the past three years, archaeologists have excavated beneath the altar and moved to two giant marble slabs, and now, for the first time in nearly 1700 years, St. Paul's coffin is given to the public. they admire.

The Latin inscription engraved on the roof of the sarcophagus is " Paolo Apostolo Martyr ", meaning " Paul, apostolic apostle ", and it also has holes through which ancient pilgrims poke cloths. enter to be touched by the holy body.

St. Paul was the one who traveled a lot in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome in the first century, and the letters he sent to the early churches, found in the New Testament, showing that these were Christian thought may be the most influential.

St. Paul is said to have been beheaded by Emperor Nero in 65 AD.

The stone coffin will be allowed to be seen by the public for a while, however, the church has not yet rejected the possibility that one day they will allow it to be checked.