Oldest Known Image of St. Paul Discovered in Catacombs of Rome

(click to enlarge)

The image was published today in the Vatican newspaper Osservator Romano.

The oldest known image of St. Paul was discovered recently on the walls of a catacomb in Rome.
Reuters reported:

Vatican archaeologists using laser technology have discovered what they believe
is the oldest image in existence of St Paul the Apostle, dating from the late
4th century, on the walls of catacomb beneath Rome.

Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, revealing the find on Sunday, published a picture of a
frescoed image of the face of a man with a pointed black beard on a red background, inside a bright yellow halo. The high forehead is furrowed.

Experts of the Ponitifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology made the discovery on June 19 in the Catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome and describe it as the "oldest icon in history dedicated to the cult of the Apostle," according to the Vatican newspaper.

The discovery, which involved removing layers of
clay and limestone using lasers, was announced a day before Rome observes a
religious holiday for the Feasts of St Peter and St Paul.