Remains of John the Baptist found in Bulgaria?

08-04-2010 • cnn.com

Archaeologists in Bulgaria claim they have found remains of John the Baptist while excavating the site of a 5th century monastery on the Black Sea island of Sveti Ivan.

A reliquary – a container for holy relics – discovered last week under the monastery’s basilica was opened on Sunday and found to contain bone fragments of a skull, a hand and a tooth, Bulgaria’s official news agency BTA reported.

Excavation leader Kazimir Popkonstantinov lifted the reliquary’s lid in a ceremony in the coastal town of Sozopol attended by dignitaries including the Bishop of Sliven, Yoanikii, and Bozhidar Dimitrov, a government minister and director of Bulgaria’s National History Museum, BTA said.

Further tests on the fragments are due to be carried out. But Popkonstantinov is convinced the relics belong to John the Baptist because of a Greek inscription on the reliquary referring to June 24, the date when Christians celebrate John the Baptist’s birth, according to the website of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

2 Comments in Response to Remains of John the Baptist found in Bulgaria?

Comment by Dracula Tepish

Entered on: 8/4/2010 7:12:33 PM

problem why is its there when in reality its buried inside of a corner building that was buiilt by a mason for this one wrong dummy you found a rear end bone and it told you that it was that so there dream on

Comment by Anonymous

Entered on: 8/4/2010 3:57:53 PM

If true, this story would be lovely. However, it's more likely it's a marketing gimmick. Note the name of the island "Sveti Ivan". That literally translates as Holy John ("the Baptist").

But who knows maybe Robert Langdon is alive and well and uncovering legitimate new reliquaries. I could be wrong which, like I said, would be lovely.

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