Saint Paul: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

 

Life and Martyrdom

• c. 5 AD – 33 AD: Born Saul in Tarsus, Cilicia (modern-day Turkey), Paul was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3). Initially a zealous persecutor of Christians, he underwent a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus around 33–36 AD (Acts 9:1–19), encountering the risen Jesus. Renamed Paul, he became a tireless missionary.
• 33–67 AD: Paul embarked on three major missionary journeys across Asia Minor, Greece, and beyond, spreading Christianity to Gentiles. He wrote numerous epistles (e.g., Romans, Corinthians) that shaped Christian theology. Arrested in Jerusalem around 57 AD, he appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen and was sent to Rome by 60 AD (Acts 25–28). After a period of house arrest, tradition holds he was released, possibly traveling to Spain, before returning to Rome. Around 67 AD, during Nero’s persecution following the Great Fire of Rome (64 AD), Paul was martyred. As a Roman citizen, he was spared crucifixion and instead beheaded, likely at a site called Tre Fontane (Three Fountains), where legend says his head bounced three times, creating springs.

Burial and Tomb Development

• c. 67 AD: After his execution, Paul’s body was claimed by Roman Christians and buried in a necropolis along the Via Ostiensis, outside Rome’s city walls, about two miles from the city center. The site, owned by a Christian woman named Lucina according to tradition, was marked with a simple memorial.
• 2nd–3rd Centuries: Early Christians venerated Paul’s tomb, erecting a small shrine or “cella memoriae” over it. The Roman historian Gaius (c. 200 AD) noted that Paul’s tomb, like Peter’s, was a known pilgrimage site.
• 324 AD: Emperor Constantine, after legalizing Christianity, built a modest basilica over Paul’s tomb, consecrating it as one of Rome’s first Christian churches. The altar was positioned directly above the burial site, reflecting its sanctity.
• 395 AD: The Constantinian basilica, deemed too small for growing pilgrim crowds, was expanded into a grander structure under Emperors Theodosius, Valentinian II, and Arcadius. This Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls became one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.
• July 15, 1823: A devastating fire, sparked by a worker repairing the roof, destroyed much of the basilica. The tomb, however, was spared, protected beneath the altar.
• 1823–1854 AD: Reconstruction began immediately, funded by global donations, including from Russian Tsar Nicholas I. The new basilica, modeled on its predecessor, was consecrated in 1854, with Paul’s tomb preserved in a crypt below the high altar.
• 2006–2009 AD: Vatican archaeologists excavated beneath the altar, uncovering a 1st-century marble sarcophagus inscribed with “Paulo Apostolo Mart” (“To Paul, Apostle and Martyr”). Carbon dating of bone fragments inside confirmed a 1st- or 2nd-century origin, aligning with Paul’s era. Pope Benedict XVI announced in 2009 that these were likely Paul’s remains.

Timeline

• c. 5 AD: Born Saul in Tarsus, Cilicia.
• c. 33–36 AD: Converted on the road to Damascus; begins ministry as Paul.
• 33–57 AD: Conducts three missionary journeys, writing epistles.
• 57–60 AD: Arrested in Jerusalem, sent to Rome under house arrest.
• 60–67 AD: Possibly travels to Spain; returns to Rome.
• c. 67 AD: Beheaded under Nero; buried along Via Ostiensis.
• 2nd–3rd Centuries: Tomb venerated with a shrine.
• 324 AD: Constantine builds first basilica over the tomb.
• 395 AD: Basilica expanded under Theodosius.
• 1823 AD: Fire destroys basilica; tomb survives.
• 1854 AD: Reconstructed basilica consecrated.
• 2006–2009 AD: Sarcophagus excavated, identified as Paul’s.

Current Status

The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four major basilicas, houses Paul’s tomb in a crypt beneath the high altar. The marble sarcophagus, visible through a window since the 2009 excavations, contains bone fragments, a skull fragment, and traces of purple linen—signs of reverence consistent with an apostle’s burial. The inscription and dating strongly support its authenticity, though absolute certainty remains elusive, as with many ancient relics.

The basilica itself is a masterpiece of 19th-century reconstruction, retaining its 4th-century layout with a vast nave, golden mosaics, and a serene cloister. Unlike St. Peter’s Basilica, its location outside the city center offers a quieter pilgrimage experience, drawing those honoring Paul’s legacy as Christianity’s great missionary. The Tre Fontane Abbey, marking his martyrdom site, complements the tomb, with its springs still flowing as a symbol of his death.

Paul’s resting place, paired with Peter’s in Rome, underscores the city’s dual apostolic foundation—Peter as the rock of the Church, Paul as its evangelist to the world. The tomb remains a profound site of faith, history, and archaeological intrigue.

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