The catacombs were at the end of the Apia Nuova (New Apia), connecting it to the Apia Antica (Old Apia). Above ground there are gardens and manicured hedges where monks once did the same work of precision and beauty. Below are four levels of resting places for countless Christians. I had never been to an underground catacombe before and this experience was certainly unique.
We were blessed to get a guide who spent more time describing the heritage and meaning behind this gathering place for early Christians than about the geology or folklore. She had such a sweet spirit. She very clearly depicted the catacombs as a place where “Christians were brought to sleep and await the new Life in Christ.” I had no idea this was the heritage behind the catacombs! I thought they were cheaper for burying people in, or something! But, no, they were very purposefully constructed to “house” the “sleeping Christians” until they rose to New Life. Wow! At one point, she took us to a room where, she said, Christians used to meet for their underground church meetings and some still did.(not in secret anymore) After the tour, we (this time, meaning Miranda) stopped to talk with her and thank her for sharing the Gospel when it would be so easy to just point at rocks and burial places. She smiled, kissed our hands, said how we are the “salt of the earth”, and motioned for us to follow her as she scurried away. She took us to the back door of the main building and soon brought out book marks, pamphlets and a cross charm for each of us. The charm was beautiful. Marked with the sign of Christ, Alpha and Omega, and the name of the catacombe, it has already become a pleasant reminder of a refreshing experience in the catacombs of our heritage.
2 comments:
Oh my friend - I am loving your stories. What a neat experience to share with your best friend and to remember. You remind me that sometimes we think our world is so small and that we are the only ones fighting for the faith but there are countless who have gone before us and many that are with us that all have the same goal of sharing Christ and worshipping him.
Love ya,
Joy
Wow, I'm really starting to miss Europe reading this. There is so much in those lands lying dormant and forgotten, waiting for people to open their eyes and take notice. It is very encouraging to hear that some people still see.
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