KAVALA
- PHILIPPI - THESSALONIKI - BEREA - CORINTH.
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Kavala(or Neapolis):
Following the vision of the Macedonian man Paul received
at Troas, St. Paul journeyed to Neapolis. He landed here
with Timothy and Silas. It may be that Luke the
Evangelist, also joined Paul here at Neapolis. This
ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis
because it was the first European city to accept
Christianity. In the Roman period, the city acted as a port for the important Roman
garrison at Philippi about fifteen km. away.
Inside the walled village of the Cavallo of the Ottoman
Empire Muhammad Ali (1769-1849) was born. Ali was the
Egyptian ruler of peasant revolt of 1805. As a result of
the revolt, Muhammad Ali eventually broke with the
Ottomans and established the last dynasty on the Egyptian
throne that ended with King Fuad in 1953 (with the rise
of Nasser).
The city has several important churches that attract
visitors: the Church of St. Paul (established 1928); and
the Church of St. Nicholas, which was converted to mosque
under Ottoman occupation. Beyond the
churches, other historical sites of interest include: the
"Old Quarter" named Panayia, after the Virgin
Mary Church that once stood in the district. The fortress is from
the early Paleologian Byzantine revival 13th CE. The
former "Imaret" is one of the largest Muslim
buildings in Europe. Other
important Ottoman buildings include the "House of
Muhammed Ali" and the Kameres Aqueduct, built by
Suleiman. |
Philippi: The city had been founded by
Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, in 368 BC.
originally on the site of a place called Kreniides, a
very ancient city. It was chosen for its strategic site
to command the road from Europe to Asia, the East to the
West. For this same reason one of the great battles of
history was fought much later at Philippi; Here, Antony
defeated Brutus and Cassius, and thereby decided the
future of the whole Roman Empire.
Paul's trip into Macedonia brought him from the
harbour at Neapolis, (15 km.). This strategic Roman
city became the place of the first established
church congregation, with early converts to Christianity.
Luke apparently joins Paul, Silas and Timothy in
Neapolis. Acts 16:12 records the arrival of the Gospel to
Macedonia through Paul's Second Mission Journey. With no
synagogue in the city, Paul goes to proseuche (a
temporary place of prayer) to observe Sabbath. The stream
off of the Gangites River was the place where Paul came
upon Lydia. Here Paul preached
his first sermon and baptized the first Christians on
European soil(Acts 16:12-18).
Paul uses citizenship as protection (Acts
16:37-38). The conversion of the
Philippian jailer is another important story from the
journey (Acts 16:21-33). Paul and Silas were thrown in prison for casting the
spirit out of a Fortune teller(Acts 16:16-40) when a strong
earthquake gives the prisoners a chance to escape. If they do, the jailer
would suffer a heavy penalty. As he prepares to kill himself, Paul calls
out that everyone is still there and preaching a short sermon he converts
the jailer as well. The church at Philippi became a
chief financial supporter of Paul's ministry, and
the congregation established here was one of the
earliest to flourish in Greece.
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| Amphipolis:
Paul passed by Amphipolis on his Second Missionary
journey on his way from Philippi to Thessaloniki. Some
scholars suggest that Paul lodged overnight here, but
the text is not specific on this point. There is no record
of his preaching here. It is likely the city was not
evangelized until a generation after Paul, but
nevertheless became an important Byzantine Christian
site. |
| Apollonia: Paul
and Silas passed also through the village of Apollonia on
their way to Thessalonica, and may have lodged there.
The village of Apollonia in Macedonia
was located along the Via Egnatia, 44 km. of Amphipolis. |
Thessaloniki:
The port city of Thessalonica (now called Thessaloniki)
was constructed on the Thermaic Gulf and became
the main seaport and naval base of Macedonia. The city was named after
(Thessalonike, daughter of Philip II and half sister of Alexander the Great).
The position of the city only improved with the
completion of the "Egnatian Way" which made the
port easily accessible to other Macedonian cities. The
"Via Egnatia" ran through the city and can
still be seen today. Strabo the geographer (C1 BCE) in
"Geographic Elements" referred to Thessaloniki
as the "Metropolis of Macedonia".
Thessalonica was a wealthy city and had a Roman, Greek
and Jewish population. Paul came to Thessalonica from
Philippi (probably in 50 CE). He went to the synagogue
for three Sabbath days (Acts 17:1-9). In Thessalonica,
some proselyte Greeks and the chief women believed Paul's
preaching. The Jews who did not believe caused uproar in
the city and assaulted the house of Jason in order to
bring out Paul and Silas. The people took Jason (Paul's
host) and other believers to the rulers, accusing Jason
of harbouring traitors to Caesar. Jason and the other
brethren were given a bond on the agreement that Paul
would leave the area. Paul and Silas were sent away
immediately by night to Berea.
The preaching of the gospel in Thessalonica was very
important and facilitated the spreading of the faith to
all of Macedonia (1 Thessalonians 1:8). From Paul's
letters to the Thessalonians it was evident that their
faith was known throughout the region. Aristachus and
Secundus (of Thessalonica) believers labored with Paul
(Acts 20:4; 27:2).
After his departure, Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica.
The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians were
written in Corinth after Timothy offered a good report
concerning the welfare of the church. Paul may have
revisited Thessalonica and mentions his intention to
visit in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians
16:5). This church suffered persecution (1 Thessalonians
2:14). Other important figures of the Thessalonians
included Jason, Gaius, Secundus, Aristarchus and perhaps
Demas (Acts 19:29; 20:4). |
Berea: Long
after Paul's preaching, the Christian community thrived
in the city. One tradition says that Sopater, son of
Pyrrhus, was the first convert of the Berean church
(mentioned in Acts 20:4). The other tradition is that of
the "Synaxar" (Orthodox Calendar of the Saints)
that refers to Karpus (one of the 70 Disciples) as first
Bishop of the city. The city was considered one of the
most important in the region, with several beautiful
churches including frescoes as old as the 12th century
CE.
Paul fled in the night from Thessalonica to Berea (Acts
17:10) and taught in the synagogue there (during the
Second Mission Journey). In the synagogue he found people
who were eager to receive the Gospel and compare it with
the Hebrew Scriptures. Luke notes that many believed, and
includes that "honorable women which were Greeks,
and of men, not a few" (Acts 17:12) came to Jesus.
The reception was probably a true respite to the Apostle
and his team, but it was short-lived. Jews who did not
believe the message of Jesus preached by Paul came to
Berea from Thessalonica when they learned Paul continued
ministry there. They stirred up the people against Paul,
causing him to once again flee, this time to Athens. Paul
left Silas and Timothy to care for the believers in Berea
and in Thessalonica for a short while.
In the modern city stands a "Triptych monument"
in remembrance of Paul's work. The monument includes
three steps that were removed from a salvage dig at a
nearby school property. The steps were reputed to have
been from the location of the ancient synagogue. The
display is made of colorful mosaic tile and displays
three panels: the Macedonian man vision, Paul, and the
address to the Bereans. |
Corinth:
Because Paul spent more than one and one half years at
Corinth during his Second Mission Journey, the city
remains important to students of the Book of Acts.
Corinth had harbours on each side, with Cenchrea on the
east end, and Lechaeum on the west. Thus the city's
natural location made it a very wealthy commercial and
shipping center.
The city also enjoyed a long and important history among
Greek city-states from the Neolithic through Archaic
Periods. Scholars agree that a Neolithic settlement was
located near the Peirene Spring from about 4,000 BC. By
the Classical Period, Corinth was one of the city-states,
ranking with Sparta and Athens in value, though not as
militarily strong. The strategic position and economy
aided the city in becoming a key player in many
alliances.
Because of its stance against the expansion of Roman
power, the Roman General Mummius laid the city waste in
146 BCE. By 46 BCE, Julius Caesar re-colonized the area
and gave it the status of Roman capital of Achaia. From
that time Corinth enjoyed much freedom as an independent
city. The city had a large theater and was frequented by
the Emperors of Rome for the Isthmian games. Several
scholars note the population may have exceeded 400,000
for some of the Roman period. Another important
attraction to the Roman city was in the Acrocorinth. This
hill, about 1886 feet above the plain, formed a natural
and impregnable defense for ancient Corinth. By the time
of the Romans such defenses were not so important, but
the establishment of the great temple of Aphrodite and
its numerous temple prostitutes (the number in some
sources is reported at more than 1000!) made the place
notable to ancient historians. The city agora or market
place boasted nightclubs or bars (33 taverns have been
excavated). The city was known for luxury, pleasure and
especially immorality - a key to concern of Paul in his
letters to the Corinthians. The city was a mixture
population (Greeks, Romans, Jews, Italians, etc.) and
attracted thousands by its reputation for
"base" entertainment. Important trade links
were maintained with Italy and Asia Minor via Ephesus
Paul's initial visit to Corinth was on his Second
Missionary Journey, when he arrived from Athens about
50-51 CE. He spent one year and six months there while
working as a tentmaker and lodged with Aquila and
Priscilla who moved to Corinth after the expulsion of
Jews from Rome by Emperor Claudius (49 or 50 CE). Paul
told Timothy and Silas to remain behind to strengthen
churches when Paul was forced to leave Berea and they
rejoined Paul in Corinth from Macedonia. When they
arrived, Paul was busy with forming the new congregation
of followers as he " reasoned in the synagogue every
Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." He
began preaching in the Jewish community and when the
leadership opposed him he departed from the synagogue and
taught the disciples in the house of Justus located next
to the synagogue. Among those who believed was the chief
synagogue ruler, Crispus.
Paul was assured by a vision that Jesus would protect him
if he remained in Corinth at the ministry task. Shortly
after the vision the message was tested. He was brought
to the judgment (bema) seat before Gallio (the newly
appointed deputy of Achaia) by some local Jewish leaders
who accused him of persuading people to worship God
contrary to the law (Acts 18: 12-16). Gallio chose not to
involve himself in the matter and drove them away. This
judgment seat that Paul was brought before has been
uncovered in the center of the market place or agora.
There were two lower steps that surrounded a high
platform (five feet or so), covered with marble. The
platform was more than thirty feet long, and had been
restored by archaeologists.
The friends Paul met at Corinth (Aquila and Priscilla)
became true partners in ministry. No doubt their
encouragement helped to revive the Apostle after the
terrible experiences associated with his second journey
as he came into Macedonia and Achaia. In addition to
their encouragement, we have record of their continued
ministry after they departed Corinth and went to Ephesus.
A Messianic teacher named Apollos taught about Jesus to
the local believers, but taught about the baptism of
John. Aquila and Priscilla knew from listening to Paul
the message had progressed further and took Apollos aside
and explained to him the more complete information.
Perhaps during those conversations Apollos gained the
desire to move on to Corinth, for he continued the work
that Paul had started there and was mightily used to
further the ministry. (see Acts 18:23,24,26-28;19:1)
Paul's Epistle to the Romans was written in Corinth.
(Romans 16:23) Paul was evidently staying with a man
named Gaius, Paul's host, and aided by the amanuensis
Tertius who was scribed the letter. The first and second
epistles to the Thessalonians were also written from
Corinth (I Thessalonians 3: 6-7). Timothy returned from
Thessalonica with reports on how the ministry progressed
after Paul's forced departure.
Paul wrote the first Epistle to the Corinthians from
Ephesus some time later. Timothy may have been the bearer
of this letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 4:17).
In the second Epistle to them (see 2 Corinthians 7) it
appears that Paul may have sent Titus with a 'painful
letter' that Paul had written to the Corinthians,
rebuking them for tolerating immorality in their midst.
That letter is widely believed to be "lost" and
not part of the record of the New Testament. It appears
that Titus may have gone to Corinth with this letter or
he may have gone after the letter got to the Corinthians
and was able to receive from them, their earnestness to
be right before God and deal with the sin issues. The
second Epistle to the Corinthians, which may be actually
a third letter, was written from Macedonia by Paul, which
amongst other commended the Corinthians for their good
response to the 'painful letter'. |
Cenchrea Paul
and his companions visited Cenchrea after nearly eighteen
months of ministry in Corinth, during the Second Mission
Journey. The city was a small port located more than two
miles south of Isthmia and about six miles east of
Corinth. It was constructed along the road from Isthmia
that leads south to the "Baths of Helen" of
antiquity. Cenchrea functioned as the eastern harbor of
the Corinthians for shipping on the Saronic Gulf. Corinth
also had another port, Lechaeum, to the west of Corinth
on the Corinthian Gulf. Ships were safely guided between
the two harbors to avoid the danger of sailing around
Cape Malea. As a town frequented by seafarers, Cenchrea
was also a sacred town to Poseidon.
Excavations were begun in 1963 by the American School,
University of Chicago and Indiana University under the
auspices of Professors Scranton and Ramage. The city had
not been excavated because it had been a military area
until that time. Though extensive excavations still need
to be carried on at the site, the port was positively
identified by coinage. The coinage depicts the harbor as
surrounded by porticoes with a significant storage
capacity. Above the site was a Roman period Temple
thought to be of Tyche (fortune). On the wide pier that
stretched about five hundred feet into the sea, a Temple
of Isis and a piscinae (fish tank) were located. Further
away, about half a mile from the harbor was the monument
for a "Tomb of Regulus", the chief patron of
the city and first president of the Isthmian games. The
tomb was about 20 years old when Paul visited here.
The port has some important New Testament connections, as
it was the site of Paul's completion of a vow, as well as
the home of Phoebe (Rom. 16:1,2). Since vows among Jews
were often completed with a shaving of the head, it
appears that Paul had completed a private vow. Some
scholars believe the vow was to remain in Corinth
(despite the pagan and degraded surroundings) until God
indicated that he should leave.
Excavations also reveal a thriving Byzantine presence. A
complex of that period was located including at least two
churches. The site appears to have been completely
destroyed by two devastating earthquakes, in 365 CE and
375 CE. A small dock and a partially submerged Basilica
are all that are easily seen today, though other remains
are exposed in bulks on the hill just north of the harbor
area. |
Patmos: The island
during the period of Roman rule had become a penal colony
for the political agitators. It had been intentionally
depopulated as the penal establishment grew. It is in
this period the New Testament records that John dwelt
here. In the text he is sent here because of "the
Word of God and testimony of Jesus", terms which are
used later in the Book of the Revelation (6:9; 20:4) in
reference to persecution. Eusebius records that John was
banished by Emperor Domitian in 95 CE, and released 18
months later under Nerva (cp. Ecclesiastical History
III.18.1; 20.8-9).
In 1088 CE a christian monk of Nicea (in Bithynia) called
Christodoulos built St. John's cloister upon the ruin of
the Artemis Temple. Christodoulos came to Patmos with an
assignment from the Emperor of Byzantium to devote
himself to quiet reflection and study. His remains were
placed in an open reliquary beside the chapel of
Christodoulos, but the monks were eventually forced to
put the body in a marble sarcophogus.
Sites for the modern visitor
The Grotto of the Apocalypse: this traditional
cave was fortified into a monastery by Gregory of
Caesarea in 17th century. The frescoes to the left of the
entrance portray the miracles and travels of St. John the
Evangelist, as written by Prochorus, a supposed disciple.
The fresco to the right of the entrance portrays St.
John's battle with the priest of Apollo at Patmos, who
the story says was called Kynops. John threw Kynops into
the water of the harbor at Skala, and Kynops turned to
stone. The rock is still pointed out as a local landmark
in the harbor.
The Monastery of St. John and The Chapel of
Virgin Mary: 12th century frescoes were uncovered by
1956 earthquake that shattered the 17th century
coverings. The treasury of the monastery includes jewels
of Catherine the Great of Russia. The library of the
monastery includes over 900 manuscripts (325 parchment),
2000 codices and books, and 13,000 documents.
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Rhodes(Rhodos)
The regional capital of the Dodecanese islands has a long
and important history. The island was first inhabited in
the Neolithic era. During the Bronze Age (3000-1150 BCE)
three early cities were formed on the island: Kamiros,
Lindos and Ialysos. The island traded gold jewelry and
ceramics decorated with oriental motifs or plants and
animals in stylised form. A school of sculpture was
developed (Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven
"wonders of the world"; the "victory of
Samothrace by Pythekritos; and Laocoon - now in the
Vatican). [*The Colossus was probably built at 100 to 150
feet high in 302-290 BCE, but fell into the harbor during
an earthquake in about 226 BCE, and was finally scrapped
in 657 CE.] Paul harboured here
(though most believe at Lindos) in about 57 CE (Acts
21:1). There is no record of any missionary work by Paul
on this island. By that time Rhodes had diminished
considerably to a small port but retained its beauty and
marks of former prosperity as well as some important
schools. Great Roman students taught on the island
included Cicero, Lucretius, Julius Caesar, Tiberius
Caesar and Marc Antony. Diocletian declared it a province
in 297 CE.
Much later, the Crusader Period
(1000-1450 CE) brought a period of stability (and
building) to the island. In 1309 it fell into the hands
of the Knights of St. John and became again a maritime
power - symbolized by its magnificent medieval town and
castle with the Palace of the Grand Masters. This period
lasted until the fall under Sulieman II in 1522 CE. The
buildings of the period mimic the buildings of Avignon,
France. Likely this period also saw the creation of the
Rhodes faience (brilliant enamels on ceramic plates
probably originated in Lindos - or borrowed technology
from Nicea).
In the Modern Period (1830-present)
the island was taken from the Turks by the Italians in
1911 and they annexed it to protect the route to African
colonies. They were responsible for much of the
restoration on the island seen today. It was occupied by
Germans from 1943-45, taken over by the British, and made
part of Greece on 7 March 1948.
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