The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-27
FIND NADE N FRANCE
Fit to Make the Heads of
ArchaeologiStS Swim.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Ever Built Is Dug Out of the
SeaCoaSt Sands.

New York. Oct. 2s-The New York
Journa! says: The beautiful story OF St
Veronica Is brought vividly 70 mind by
the discovery Of the church founded by
her. which neither time. nor man. nor the
forces Of nature have been able 20 des-
troy. This is said to De the Oldest church
in the world
This story is one Of the most beautiful
and pathetic Immediately connected with
the Cruciixion Of LIus Christ. Veron-
lea was a faithful follower Of the Lord
As He was Ga His way 10 Calvary. bear
ing the Cross and fainting from fatigue
she held a handkerchief to HIS face and
wiped away the blood and sweat On
this handkerchief was miraculously i'm
Painted a likeness Of the Saviour face
After the Crucifxion. Veronica fed TO a
distant part Of Gaul. She settled where Is
now the village Of Soulac. near Bordeaux,
IN France Here she founded tiny
church Of earth and branches, which was,
IN A few years. replaced by one of stone.
IN the ninth century this was 4ismantiei
by the invading NOrseman.
IL the tenth century, William the Good,
Count of Bordeaux, built a church at
Soulac TO perpetuate the memory Of that
founded by St. Veronica. As early as the
fifteenth century the sea encroached
steadily upon Soulac. BY the close of the
seventeenth the inhabitants had been
driven inland and the church deserted,
as the waves washed about its walls.
Then came another, change. BY the
nlanting Of sea pines the sands OF Soulac
were soHdifed and the winds checked.
The sea ceased to encroach and then be-
gan to recede. In time the church stood
high and dry again. Today it has been
restored 10 religious uses once more.
But still more wonderful to relate
week ago workmen were diging the
foundations for a new town han at Soulac.
They came upon the sand EMBEDDED re-
mains Of an ancient Roman building,
which must be none other than the little
church founded by ST. Veronica immedi-
atcly after our Lords death.
ST. Veronica, according to religious his
torians. originally bore ghe name Of
SeIaphia. and was one Of the most de-
vo-ed followers Of Jesus in Jerusalm.
When the Saviour, having been scourged
and crowned with thorns, was led forth
to Calvary, the place Of crucifxion. aie
was faint from pain and burden OF the
Cross. Seraphia then passed forward
through the brutal mob and wiped the
blood and sweat from mis- with white
linen cloth. According TO the tradition,
a likeness Of the Savior's face was i'm
mediateiy imprinted upon the cloth.
Seraphia was thenceforward known as
ST. Veronica. name derived from the
two words, Verum (meaning true) and
Icon tan image.
This beautiful tradition. which Is ac-
cepted by millions of Christians. gives TO
St. Veronica pre-eminent place in re-
ligiou5 history as an eXemplar of wo-
menly tenderness. pity and devotion.
After the Cruciixion. St. Veronica left
Jerusalem and, in obedience TO the in
junction. eco We into all the world and
preach the Gospel unto every man. went
to the most distant part of Gaul. then 4
Roman possession. Here she settled at
an outpost known as Soulac, IN the dis
-rict of Medoc. just south Of the great
French city OF Bordeaux.
A. this place 10 began TO convert the
E2man soldiers and the natives OF Gaul.
1oer work prospered. She built small
mud and interviewer branches. This was
replaced 10y n humble but substantial
building Of stone. In all probability this
vas the first Christian church built in the
world Il was built on a sandy spot of
earth projecting into the storm beaten
Bay Of Biscay. The other Christians were
as yet unable 70 build churches They
worshiped in private dwellings. caves and
secret places.
But here ST. Veronica was too far from
Rome 10 de troubled by the imperial
authorities. and yet received protection
from the Roman soldiers against the
fierce Gauis. We may imagin that she
was aided in making converts by exhi-
biting 10 them the Veronica" the mi
racuIous likeness Of the Savior.
St Veronica died at Soulac at the age
o. eighty Her body remained there for
eight centuries. The miraculous likeness
was evidently taken 20 st. Peters at
Rome.