(July 30, 2011) Archaeologists are asserting that they have uncovered the tomb of
the Apostle Philip in Pamukkale, former Hierapolis, in Western Anatolia, Turkey, the
city where Philip died, after having preached in Greece and in Asia Minor. The discovery
was made by an Italian archaeological mission that began in 1957, and today is made
up of an international team, directed since the year 2000 by Francesco D'Andria, professor
of the University of Salento, Italy. In reporting the announcement, the Vatican daily,
L'Osservatore Romano pointed out that an important step in the search for St. Philip's
tomb was achieved in 2008, when the team identified the processional street that pilgrims
followed to reach the apostle's sepulchre. "Next to the Martyrion (octagonal building
of worship, built on the spot where St. Philip was martyred), we have found a fifth-century
basilica with three naves," explained the mission's director. "This church was built
around a first-century Roman tomb, which evidently enjoyed the highest consideration,
if the decision was made later to build a basilica around it." Due to these and other
elements, "we have come to the certainty of having found the tomb of the Apostle Philip,
which was the aim of the pilgrimages to that place," said D'Andria. .The fourth century
Church Historian, Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea,- considered the “Father of Church
History”-, wrote that two stars shine in Asia: John, buried in Ephesus, and Philip,
"who rests in Hierapolis." The question linked to the apostle's death has sparked
controversy. According to an ancient tradition, he was not martyred, but the apocryphal
gospels state that he suffered martyrdom under the Romans.