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What A Suppressed Gospel Said The Acts of Thomas records that the populace "saw as two beings, one single royal token consisting of two halves" (112:80) and "united their adoration of the two persons of Christ". Not sur- prisingly, this Gospel along with others was suppressed after the first Christian Council at Nicaea in 325. Again, in the Acts of Thomas, the issue of Judas the Twin was further clarified by a remarkable statement that referred to the "twin brother of Christ, apostle to the most high and fellow initi- ate into the hidden word of Christ who does receive his secret say- ings". The Church claimed that the "secret sayings" in the Gospel of Thomas were collected and recorded by Judas the Twin from words recited to him by Jesus.” In referring to the Acts of Thomas (Acta Thomae) and the Gospel of Thomas, the Catholic Encyclopaedia comments: His name [Judas the Twin] is the starting point of a consider- able apocryphal literature, and there are also certain histori- cal data which suggest that some of this apocryphal material may contain germs of truth.” What A Suppressed Gospel Said A highly respected ancient tradition of the Roman people held The Acts of Thomas records that the populace "saw as two that divine twin boys were born to the god Mars and an earthly beings, one single royal token consisting of two halves" (112:80) virgin woman called Ilia. They were Romulus and Remus, the and "united their adoration of the two persons of Christ". Not sur- mythical founders of Rome, believed by the people to have been prisingly, this Gospel along with others was suppressed after the sent to Earth as beautiful human beings and reared as infants in first Christian Council at Nicaea in 325. the wild by a she-wolf. They were especially honoured in Rome, Again, in the Acts of Thomas, the issue of Judas the Twin was where they were worshipped as "The Great Twin Brethren to further clarified by a remarkable statement that referred to the whom all pray". Romulus slew Remus and subsequently ascend- "twin brother of Christ, apostle to the most high and fellow initi- ed into Heaven and joined the gods. Later, a certain Julius ate into the hidden word of Christ who does receive his secret say- Proculus announced that he had seen Romulus alive, who told ings". The Church claimed that the "secret sayings" in the Gospel him that he had become the god Quirinus. Romulus was then dei- of Thomas were collected and recorded by Judas the Twin from fied as Quirinus. words recited to him by Jesus.” The story of Romulus and Remus became essentially the myth In referring to the Acts of Thomas (Acta Thomae) and the of Rome in the sense that it embodied the high ideals and values Gospel of Thomas, the Catholic Encyclopaedia comments: to which they referred over the centuries when they wanted to His name [Judas the Twin] is the starting point of a consider- explain to themselves what it was to be Roman. In this way, the able apocryphal literature, and there are also certain histori- stories of Romulus and Remus may have been deliberate cre- cal data which suggest that some of this apocryphal material ations, but they could be said to have assumed mythical status may contain germs of truth.” over years of repetition and reference. It shall be shown that the stories The Acts of Thomas "recounts of the lives of Mariamne Herod's the wanderings and adventures of Again, in the Acts of Thomas, the twin boys iter became, Pecause or idymus Jude Thomas...and his . . eir Roman father and the royal twin brother Jesus"” and makes issue of Judas the Twin was further lood of their mother, a rationali- several references to the twin boys clarified by a remarkable statement sation of the Romulus and Remus peing raised in a palace. The | that referred to the "twin brother of J 0% °F ‘he bwin founders of directly to Judas Thomas: Christ, apostle to the most high and That Emperor Tiberius carried When F way an nant oe | fellow initiate into the hidden word fh smo ns nd in he Palace reposing in the wealth of Christ who does receive his Roman historian Tacitus, who and luxury of those who nour- secret sayings’. records the birth of twins to Livilla ished me...” (d. AD 31) and Drusus (d. AD 23), the son of Emperor Tiberius, as "a In a section of the Acts of Thomas, rare event [that] so delighted the sometimes called "In the Country of the Indians", the following Emperor that he did not refrain from boasting before the words of Judas Thomas appear: senators". I remembered that I was a son of Royal parents, and my That Jesus had a twin brother has been debated for centuries. noble birth asserted its nature.” The great Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), in his famous interpretation of the Last Supper, appeared to subscribe to A fragment of parchment believed also to be from the Acts of this ancient belief with his depiction of one of the disciples (fifth Thomas has Jesus saying to Judas Thomas, "Greetings, Twin, my from Jesus' right). He bears an uncanny resemblance to Jesus, not second messiah". This statement supports the reference to two only in physical appearance but also in the matching design and messiahs documented in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, "The Book _ colour of his clothing, complete to the fine detail of the width and of the Community Rule". shading of the narrow neckband on his costume. Again, in the Acts of Thomas, the issue of Judas the Twin was further clarified by a remarkable statement that referred to the "twin brother of Christ, apostle to the most high and fellow initiate into the hidden word of Christ who does receive his secret sayings". A fragment of parchment believed also to be from the Acts of Thomas has Jesus saying to Judas Thomas, "Greetings, Twin, my second messiah". This statement supports the reference to two messiahs documented in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, "The Book of the Community Rule". A crucial fact to be remembered when discussing those "lost" works is that the texts in which Judas Thomas appears as Jesus’ twin brother were once accepted works of scripture and widely used by the early presbyters in all Western congregations.” Also to be borne in mind is the fact that the Gospel of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas are from the same era as the four canoni- cal Gospels of the New Testament today. This can only mean that during the establishment years of the Christian texts, the idea of a twin was perfectly acceptable, and with the naivety of the times the birth of identical twins was seen as a miraculous and fascinat- ing event.” Michelangelo Reveals a Papal Secret The supreme sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) also avidly preserved the "twin boys" theme in dozens of his famous works of Mary. A Catholic theologian, John Eck (1486-1543), argued against persistent rumours which alleged a secret had been confided to both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo by the Borgia pope” and later the de Medici pope, Leo. Pope Leo X was a "pleasure-loving","' self-confessed homosexual and one of his partners was Michelangelo. At some period in their lives, both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci lived in luxurious quarters at the Belvedere® on the Vatican Hill and worked on private commissions for both popes. But it was a statement made by Pope Leo X to the Latin Church that strengthened the suspicion that both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were privy to secret information. Pope Leo X frankly declared, "How well we know what a profitable supersti- tion this fable of Christ has been for us".** Truly remarkable Twins in Roman Tradition The birth of twins was seen by the people of the times as a supernatural occurrence, one of divine origin. Once upon a time, in myth, twins signified whatever dualisms a culture entertained: mortal/immortal; good/evil; creation/destruction, what they had.” NEXUS ¢ 31 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2002 www.nexusmagazine.com