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ROME, Italy (UPI) -- Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece accepted as a gift from Pope Benedict XVI two links from the chain that bound St. Paul before his execution in Rome.
The links, in an alabaster reliquary, were handed to the archbishop Thursday by Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul`s Outside the Walls, where the chain is preserved and venerated, Catholic News Service reported.
Given the fact that St. Paul was the first to preach the Gospel in Greece and that he founded several Christian communities there, Archbishop Christodoulos had asked Pope John Paul II for a portion of the relics -- the bones -- of St. Paul. But the Vatican only recently rediscovered the exact location of St. Paul`s tomb inside the basilica and construction work on the church over the centuries has made it impossible, at least for now, to open the tomb and see if any of the apostle`s remains are inside.
So, Pope John Paul had decided to give a section of the chain to the Orthodox Church of Greece. The consignment could not be arranged before Pope John Paul died in 2005, but Pope Benedict renewed the offer of the links to the archbishop.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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ROME, DEC. 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The Orthodox archbishop of Athens and All Greece has received two links of the chains believed to have bound St. Paul, as a gesture to foster ties between Catholics and Orthodox.

Benedictine Father Edmund Power, abbot of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, explained that the presentation of these relics Thursday to the Orthodox leader "was a decision already made in 2003 by John Paul II but that he was unable to carry out."

"The Church of Athens considers Paul its apostolic founder, so the relic has a special meaning," said the abbot. "In his letters Paul speaks at times of his chains.

"The rich symbolism of the chains is alluded to in the quotations from St. Paul's letters inscribed in the reliquary, for example: 'so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ' -- found in Philippians 1:13 -- and 'I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you' -- found in Ephesians 3:1."

"Paul's chains, physical symbol of his imprisonment, suggest to us suffering joyfully endured in union with Christ, love that unites Paul to his Master, and the bonds of charity that can unite all those who acknowledge Christ as Lord, dead and risen," observed Father Power.

The relic of the chains in Rome was already mentioned by St. John Chrysostom at the end of the fourth century, by St. Leo the Great in the fifth century, and by St. Gregory the Great in the sixth century, explained the abbot.

"Coincidence"

In recent days the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls has been in the news given the recent excavations that brought to light the sarcophagus that was considered, since the time of the emperor Theodosius, Paul's tomb.

Father Power said that it was a "total coincidence" that the presentation of the links to the Greek archbishop and the discovery of the sarcophagus took place at the same time, albeit "a happy coincidence."

"For some months we have been carrying out the works of the Confession," he noted. "Now the side of Paul's sarcophagus can be seen, to venerate better the memory of the Apostle to the Gentiles.

"At the same time, we have discovered a part of the apse of the first basilica -- built before 330 -- on the west side of the building; the apse of the second basilica -- of the year 380 -- is on the east side," the Benedictine added.

The abbot explained that his religious community is committed to the promotion of Christian unity, "primarily through hospitality to the various ecumenical groups, which are many, and with activities at the spiritual and liturgical level."

"Hospitality is an important aspect of Benedictine life," he added. "Specifically, we collaborate with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity."