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Chapel of St Paul

St Paul was one of the founders of the Church. As a young man he was a ruthless persecutor of the Christian faith. After his conversion to Christianity, he became the great missionary apostle of the young church. His work and his journeys are described in the Acts of the Apostles and in the letters he wrote to the Christian communities around the Mediterranean.

St Paul was a tent-maker and the ceiling of the Chapel is decorated to represent a tent. The back wall shows the story of his conversion. Travelling from Jerusalem (on the right) to Damascus (on the left), St Paul is blinded by a great light, and is addressed by Christ. Beneath the scene the Latin inscription records Christ's words: "Get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what to do"(Acts 9:6).

On the right hand on the Chapel St Paul is shown shipwrecked on Malta (in Latin, MELITA). The mosaic over the arch opposite represents the riddle of Samson (Judges 14:14): bees around the head of a lion represent sweetness coming forth from strength (in Latin DE FORTI EGRESSA EST DULCEDO) - a reference to St Paul's good works following his former bitterness towards Christianity. Also depicted is a basket with ropes attached, recalling St Paul's escape from Damascus when he was lowered over the wall in a basket (Acts 9:25)

St Paul is shown with the sword of his martyrdom.
Over the altar, St Paul is shown with his traditional sword - a symbol both of his eloquence in preaching the Word of God, and of his death. The marble behind the altar comes from Athens, where St Paul himself preached (Acts 17:15). Above, Christ is depicted with St Peter and St Paul, and the Latin inscription translates "The Lord gives us the Law".

The floor of the Chapel is in the style of the Cosmati brothers, who worked in Italy in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.It recalls the magnificent Cosmati pavement of Westminster Abbey.


Cosmati pavement floor.
In this Chapel we pray for those who seek Christian belief, as well as those who spread the gospel, and all those persecuted for their faith.

Lord, through the prayers
of St Paul
Help us to spread the Gospel
in our words and deeds.
Be with all those who suffer
for what they believe;
Strengthen their hope, and comfort them
in their suffering.


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This Chapel is dedicated to St Paul,
the 'Apostle of the Gentiles'


The ceiling shows the Damascus journey
and the tent decoration.






 

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