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Let's Take a Walk Through History
Apostle Paul
The Basilica from the Outside
The Basilica from the Outside
“This is the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. It stands outside the ancient walls of Rome, along the Via Ostiense, at the traditional burial site of the Apostle Paul. The first church over Paul's tomb was built under Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. The enormous basilica we see today reflects centuries of expansion, rebuilding, and restoration.”
The Interior of the Basilica
The Interior of the Basilica
“This is the interior of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The basilica is a monumental Christian church built to honor the Apostle Paul. Notice the long central nave and the many columns. The present building was reconstructed after a devastating fire in 1823, while preserving many elements and the historic design of the earlier basilica.
Paul's Tomb Beneath the Papal Altar
Paul's Tomb Beneath the Papal Altar
“Beneath the Papal Altar is the ancient sarcophagus traditionally identified as the tomb of the Apostle Paul. Archaeological work revealed the large marble sarcophagus beneath the altar. A viewing opening now allows visitors to see the area of Paul's tomb.”
St. Paul's Tomb
Tre Fontane Church
The Abby of the Three Fountains is located along the via Laurentina south of central Rome. According to tradition, it was here that the Apostle Paul was executed June 29, 67. The tradition indicates that he was beheaded and that his head bounced on the ground three times and three fountains sprang from the ground where the head bounced.
The current church was built in 1599. An earlier church was built here in the 5th century A.D. A monastic community was established here in 641. St. Bernard stayed here during his time in Rome—1138–40. The Abby contains three churches.
Spring Chapel
View of two of the three large niches that are built over the three springs of the church of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane.
According to tradition, it was here that the Apostle Paul was executed June 29, 67. The tradition indicates that he was beheaded and that his head bounced on the ground three times and three fountains sprang from the ground where the head bounced.
The three springs were shut down in 1950 due to water contamination.
On the floor in the foreground is a depiction of the four seasons of the year.
The current church was built in 1599. An earlier church was built here in the 5th century A.D. A monastic community was established here in 641. St. Bernard stayed here during his time in Rome—1138–40. The Abby contains three churches.
Column of St. Paul
View of the Column of Saint Paul at which, according to tradition, Saint Paul was bedheaded.
Part of this column is venerated in one of the chapels of Saint Paul in the Collegiate Parish church of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta, Malta!
“Inside the Church of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane is this marble column, protected by an iron grille. Christian tradition identifies it as the column to which the Apostle Paul was bound before his beheading. It marks the traditional site of Paul's martyrdom.”
And importantly, the column is still there—it is not merely marking a place where a column used to stand. The present column is preserved inside the church.
According to tradition, it was here that the Apostle Paul was executed June 29, 67. The tradition indicates that he was beheaded and that his head bounced on the ground three times and three fountains sprang from the ground where the head bounced.
The three springs were shut down in 1950 due to water contamination.
The current church was built in 1599. An earlier church was built here in the 5th century A.D. A monastic community was established here in 641. St. Bernard stayed here during his time in Rome—1138–40. The Abby contains three churches.
Beheading Column
View of a portion of a column in one of the chapels of Saint Paul in the Collegiate Parish church of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta.
This partial column is from San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (in Rome) on which, according to tradition Paul was beheaded.
Acts 16 says Paul and Silas were beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and fastened in stocks, followed by the earthquake that opened the prison doors.
There is an actual ancient structure at Philippi traditionally identified as their prison:
This is the actual archaeological site at ancient Philippi, where Acts 16 places Paul's confrontation with the magistrates, beating, and imprisonment.
The Catacomb of St.Thecla and the Early Images of the Apostles
These photographs show archaeologists examining the Catacomb of St. Thecla in Rome, an ancient Christian burial complex named for Saint Thecla, a woman remembered in early Christian tradition as a disciple of the Apostle Paul. According to the Acts of Paul and Thecla, she heard Paul preach, became a follower of Christ, and was associated with his ministry.
Who Was Thecla?
The Catacomb of St. Thecla in Rome is named after a Christian woman remembered as a martyr. Ancient tradition associates a woman named Thecla with this cemetery, although historians cannot say with certainty exactly which Thecla was originally commemorated there.
Thecla is also known from the ancient Christian writing called the Acts of Paul and Thecla. According to this tradition, Thecla was a woman from Iconium who heard the Apostle Paul preach, became a follower of Jesus Christ, and devoted herself to the faith. She endured persecution and was remembered as a martyr and a faithful disciple. She later became an important figure in early Christian tradition.
Inside the Catacomb of St. Thecla is a fresco of a woman flanked by the apostles Peter and Paul. Some scholars have suggested that this woman may represent Thecla, but her identity cannot be confirmed with certainty.
The story of Thecla reminds us that women were also remembered in early Christian tradition as devoted followers of Christ who endured persecution for their faith. At the same time, the evidence from the catacomb reminds us to distinguish between what history can establish and what has been preserved through Christian tradition.
Thecla and Her Early Depictions
Thecla is remembered in early Christian tradition as a devoted follower of Christ and a martyr. The ancient writing known as the Acts of Paul and Thecla describes Thecla of Iconium as a woman who heard the Apostle Paul preach, became a follower of Jesus, endured persecution, and became known as a faithful disciple and teacher.
The Catacomb of St. Thecla in Rome was named after a Christian woman named Thecla who was traditionally believed to have been buried, disappeared, or honored at the site. However, historians cannot say with certainty whether she was the same Thecla described in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
Within the catacomb, archaeologists uncovered fourth-century paintings that had been hidden beneath centuries of mineral deposits.The catacomb contains a fresco of a woman flanked by Peter and Paul. Some scholars believe this woman may be Thecla, but the identification is uncertain. The same catacomb also contains remarkable fourth-century portrait-style images of Peter, Paul, Andrew, and John surrounding Christ as the Good Shepherd.
There are also other early artistic representations associated with Thecla. One important example from the Ephesus area depicts Paul and Thecla together, reflecting the tradition of their association. Another early Egyptian painting shows a woman identified with Thecla between two lions, referring to her persecution and attempted martyrdom in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
These images do not prove exactly what Thecla looked like, nor can every image be identified with certainty. What they do show is that Thecla was an important figure in early Christian memory and tradition, and that Christians preserved her story alongside the memory of the apostles and other early followers of Christ.
The image identified as Paul is especially significant because it shows that, by the fourth century, Christians had developed a recognizable visual tradition for remembering the apostles. While this painting was made centuries after Paul's lifetime and cannot be considered a photograph or exact likeness of him, it provides a fascinating glimpse into how early Christians remembered and honored the apostle and his place in the history of the Church.
Of the four, only Paul (pictured above) is described in apocryphal literature: “short, bald, bow-legged, healthy-looking, single-browed, a bit long-nosed, and bursting with beneficence. Sometimes he looked like a mortal; at other times he had a glowing countenance of an angel” (Acts Paul Thec. 3:3; trans. J. K. Elliott, The Apocryphal New Testament [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993], 350–89).
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