Archaeologists believe they have discovered the tomb of Saint Philip, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, in western Turkey, Anatolia news agency said Wednesday quoting the team leader.
“We have been looking for Saint Philip’s tomb for years,” Italian Francesco d’Andria told the agency. “We finally found it in the ruins of a church which we excavated a month ago.”
The church is located at Pamukkale, known as Hierapolis in ancient times, where Philip was said to have been martyred after preaching across Asia Minor.
D’Andria said the tomb had not been opened. “One day it will be, no doubt,” he said, describing the discovery as “a major development both for archaeology and the Christian world.”
People believed the tomb of Saint Philip was in the “hill of the dead” in Hierapolis, but the team found new church ruins near the hill where the tomb actually lies.
“The discovery of the tomb of St Philip, who is a very important figure in Christianity, will make a tremendous impression in the world,” D’Andria said.
Archaeologists had been working for years to find the tomb of the biblical figure.
Hierapolis is an ancient city and also a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The city, famous for its historical hot springs, comprises a mixture of pagan, Roman, Jewish and early Christian influences.
Saint Philip is believed to have died in Hierapolis around 80 AD. Legend says he was crucified upside-down or martyred by beheading.
Centuries after his death, an octagonal building named “The Martryium” was erected and it was believed he was buried there. But his tomb had never been found.
—AFP,IANS