THE RELICS OF ST PAUL THE APOSTLE

HISTORY OF ST PAUL THE APOSTLE

St. Paul the Apostle (Feast Day: June 29th) was from Tarsus and was of the tribe of Benjamin. He became a pharisee while studying under Gamaliel and was present at the stoning of St. Stephen. St. Paul converted to Christianity in a miraculous way: Christ appeared to him in blinding light while he was traveling on the road to Damascus. St. Ananias met with St. Paul and baptized him. St. Paul spread the Gospel to the gentiles and wrote many epistles.

THE BASILICA

St. Paul’s relics are in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura). St. Constantine erected the Basilica near the original site of the relics. The basilica was decorated, modified, and enlarged by Theodosius 1 and St. Gregory the Great.

The Church is large and has beautiful icons above the altar, which are at the far end of the Church.

Inside the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

St. Paul the Apostle’s relics are underneath the altar.

St. Paul the Apostles relics are located underneath this altar.

Thankfully, you can venerate the relics by descending a set of stairs in front of the altar (as seen above). The sarcophagus is visible through the grating and if you look carefully, you will see St. Paul’s name inscribed on the stone.

St. Paul the Apostle's relics. — St. Paul the Apostle’s relics.

There is a museum in the Basilica’s courtyard containing many artifacts and relics, so plan time to see some of the archaeological findings that are in the courtyard.

Courtyard in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

A display area contains the relics of different saints.

Reliquary inside the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

DIRECTIONS

The basilica is southwest of the Colosseum and west of the Catacombs of St. Sebastian.

Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls map

There are three stations near the Basilica: Basilica S. Paulo (east of the Basilica), Garbatella (north of the Basilica), and Marconi (south of the Basilica).