St. Philip was probably a disciple of John the Baptist. When John pointed to Jesus as “the One who is to Come,” Jesus said to Philip, “Follow Me!” And Philip did. Tradition says that he was present at the Miracle at the Wedding Feast in Cana. It was Philip who brought Jesus the loaves and fish from the little boy so that Jesus could feed the multitudes. At the Last Supper, Philip asked Jesus to “show us the Father.”
The Apostles Philip & James are buried at the Church of the Twelve Apostles (Santi Apostoli) in Rome. The Church is under the Pastoral guidance of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, whose central offices are located there.
In 2017, the tombs of the two Apostles were opened. It had not been opened for 600 years. This is an unusual occurrence. Such tombs are opened only when there is concern that the marble is cracked, wooden frames are decayed, or metal is rusted. The tomb is then opened, examined by forensic scientists and archeologists, repaired and sealed for centuries. That is what happened at Santi Apostoli in 2017.
Since St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Cheektowaga, NY was celebrating its Golden Jubilee as a Parish in 2017, it was decided possible and appropriate to attempt to obtain a First-Class Relic of our patron saint. It was not as easy as first determined. Letters were required from the Pastor to assure the Relic was destined for veneration by the faithful (rather than to remain in a personal collection). Because the Relic was from an Apostle, a letter was also required from the Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo. Fr. James McCurry, Minister Provincial of the Conventual Franciscans’ Our Lady of the Angels Province, visited Rome several times, delivering the required letters and requesting the Relic be obtained for the Parish.
When the tomb was opened, besides the ashes of the deceased Apostles, two bone structures were found: a tibia bone of St. James and the skeletal remain of the foot of St. Philip. (A foot washed by Jesus at the Last Supper.) Philip was eventually crucified as a Martyr for the Faith, and the foot bone clearly shows the place of the nail.
When the tomb was opened, besides the ashes of the deceased Apostles, two bone structures were found: a tibia bone of St. James and the skeletal remain of the foot of St. Philip. (A foot washed by Jesus at the Last Supper.) Philip was eventually crucified as a Martyr for the Faith, and the foot bone clearly shows the place of the nail.
The relic was then delivered to Fr. McCurry by a Franciscan Friar from Rome. An antique reliquary was obtained to hold the Relic.
The Relic of St. Philip was presented to Fr. David Borowiak, Pastor of St. Philip’s at the time, by Fr. Alex B. Cymerman on Sunday, July 2, 2018. The reliquary is a gift to the Parish by the Richard Cymerman Family.
The Relic of St. Philip was presented to Fr. David Borowiak, Pastor of St. Philip’s at the time, by Fr. Alex B. Cymerman on Sunday, July 2, 2018. The reliquary is a gift to the Parish by the Richard Cymerman Family.
Special thanks from our Parishioners and all the Faithful who are able to venerate this Relic to Fr. Alex Cymerman for his hard work in procuring this for our Parish.
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See the article from the Conventual Franciscan Friars here.
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