Will Have Ecumenical Dimension

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 28, 2007 - Benedict XVI has declared June 2008-June 2009 the year of St. Paul in celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the saint's birth.

The Pope decreed the year in a vespers celebration held today at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The Holy Father explained during his homily: "This 'Pauline Year' will take place in a special way in Rome, where for 2,000 years under the papal altar of this basilica, lies the tomb that according to experts and undisputed tradition has conserved the remains of the apostle Paul."

The Pontiff said: "In the papal basilica and Benedictine abbey attached to it, there can take place a series of liturgical, cultural and ecumenical events, as well as various pastoral and social initiatives, all of them inspired by Pauline spirituality.

"Special attention can also be given to pilgrims who from various places will want to go to the tomb of the Apostle in a penitential way in order to find spiritual benefits.

"Meetings for study will be promoted and there will be special publications on Pauline texts, to promote the immense richness of the teaching contained in them, true patrimony of humanity redeemed by Christ.

"Also, in every part of the world, similar initiatives will be organized in dioceses, sanctuaries and places of prayer by religious institutions, institutions of study and assistance, which carry the name of St. Paul or which have been inspired by him and his teaching."

Benedict XVI explained that this year must have an important "ecumenical dimension."

"The Apostle of the Gentiles, who dedicated himself to the spreading of the good news to all peoples, spent himself for the unity and harmony of all Christians," the Pope said.

"May he guide us and protect us in this bimillenary celebration," he added, "helping us to advance in the humble and sincere search for the full unity of all the members of the mystical body of Christ."

St. Paul`s Birthplace Tarsus :

St. Paul`s birthplace,Tarsus is one of the oldest settlements in Cilicia.Excavator working on the mound rising in the north-west quarter in the city have uncovered evidence of settlements here in the Chalcolithic,Early Bronze,Hittite,Hellenistic and Roman periods.Among the famous people of Tarsus is the name of Sit Aleyhisselam,known as Adam`s son Seth;he is reputedly buried in a mauseloum on the eastern side of Ulu Mosque.A somewhat later,and likewise legendary,burial is that at Donuk Tas of Sardanapalus,the Assyrian king who is sometimes credited with founding Tarsus in about 820 BC.The Emperor Julian the Apostate was buried in Tarsus after his defeat in his battles with the Persians in 364.The Emperor also died here,and his heir,Hadrian,who was with him,assumed the power.

Alexander the Great marched through southern Anatolia in 334 BC enroute to his lightning conquest of the East.He stopped long enough in Tarsus to catch what was almost his death of cold swimming in the Cydnus River,The city has changed hands many times.The most famous person associated Tarsus in religious history is Paul the Apostle.Paul was born A Jew of the tribe of Benjamin in Tarsus about AD 10 and spent his early years here.While still a youth he was sent to Jerusalem to study with Gamaliel,a leading Jewish theologian.In Jerusalem he persecuted members of the new Christian community and was present when Stephen was stoned.Continuing his intent to stop the new group from spreading,Paul went to Damascus.Shortly before he arrived,he was struct blind with the vision of Jesus who called him to witness to the Gospel.From then on his life was devoted to that mission.

Paul was back living in Tarsus when Barnabas recruited him to work with the church in Antioch-on-the-Orontes.Paul made two subsequent missionary journeys through western Anatolia and into Greece.Tarsus originally was a seaport on a lagoon at the mouth of the Cydnus River and into the 10th century it was a hideout for Arab pirates.Since then the coast has gradually moved farther and farther out into the Mediterranean Sea.Other Roman remains have been found in Tarsus.

For example,the foundations of the Tarsus American Lycee are on top of vaults that probably were part of a Roman or Hellenistic hippodrome.