BURIAL PLACE OF APOSTLE MATTHEW ‘FOUND’ IN KYRGYZSTAN

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
Aug. 30, 2006

(RFE/RL) August 30, 2006 — A Kyrgyz archaeologist believes he may
have located the burial place of the Apostle Matthew.

Vladimir Ploskikh told a news briefing in Bishkek today that his team
this summer uncovered on the northeastern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul
what he believes are the remains of the Christian monastery that
a 14th-century map indicates is the site where the Apostle Matthew
was buried.

According to legends, Apostle Matthew died on his way to India and
established several Christian communities during the course of his
journey.

The document, which is kept in Venice and is known as the Catalan map,
mentions a place named "Issicol," where it says there is "a cloister
of the Armenian Brothers where the body of the Apostle and Evangelist
Saint Matthew is."

Ploskikh, however, cautioned that further investigation is needed.

Four years ago, a Russian-born U.S. photographer, Sergei Melnikoff,
said he had found Apostle Matthew’s grave near Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyz
scientists dismissed his claims.