The Stone Testament

F. Aquino

Maggie Pietra, archaeologist and Harvard PhD student, discovers an icon on the wall of a Libyan cave long-buried under a desert dune. The icon appears to be Christian, but she knows it cannot be. It was drawn before Christ’s message had reached Libya - then known as Cyrene. The New Testament tells her that Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross to the Crucifixion, but three oddly worded phrases from the gospels of

Mark, Matthew and Luke, cause her to suspect that Simon did much more than just carry the cross. With the help of ex priest David Parker she begins to unravel a mystery which leads to Mauritania and to a secluded Line of Protectors guarding an Urn containing an object so astonishing she is forced to question everything about Christianity itself.

The Pope is in possession of a secret gospel written by an eyewitness to the Crucifixion, and is fully aware of the existence of the Urn. He orders his most trusted cardinal to do whatever is necessary to keep the Urn hidden, or destroy it. The trail leads to Florence where Parker is forced to choose between Maggie's life and the Urn. But no one, not even Maggie herself, understands the unique role she is destined to play in a prophesy which failed two millennia ago and is now poised for its second attempt.

order a copy here