Ancient St Paul icon unearthed in catacomb

by Anthony Smith (staff) | Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

The Osservatore Romano, a Vatican newspaper, has revealed that archaeologists discovered “the most ancient known icon” of the Apostle Paul, during routine restoration work at the Santa Tecla catacomb on the Via Ostiense in Rome.

According to the Osservatore Romano, the style of painting used on the Saint’s “strong and eloquent” face seems to indicate a dating from the fourth or fifth centuries AD when the early Church was attempting to convert the pagan masses to the growing, elite-sponsored Christian faith.

The archaeologists who discovered the circular fresco while cleaning a cubicle, reportedly, called an immediate halt to their work astonished by the magnificence of their discovery.

What is more, reports the Osservatore Romano, it appears the painting is part of a larger ensemble of portraits placed around a clipeus (shield) of Christ as the Good Shepherd, depicting other saints of the early Church including St Peter. Yet, it is the image of St Paul, “the most expressive and emotional” of them, which has most caught the imagination of the experts, claims Osservatore Romano.

The discovery comes at a timely moment for the Roman Catholic Church as celebrations including concerts, exhibitions and lectures on the Saint’s significance for the Pauline Year – the anniversary of the Apostle Paul’s birth – culminate in Rome and beyond.

The Vatican announced only recently that independent DNA tests performed on the mortal remains contained within St Paul’s tomb at the Basilica of St Paul-without-the-Walls had confirmed they dated to the first or second centuries AD.