Day 3 – Tuesday, July 2: Amphipolis, Philippi, Kavala, Thessaloniki
Today was our first full day here in Greece. The weather was sunny and warm (typical for the summer here in Greece), with a comfortable start in the 60s and highs around 90. We left the hotel shortly after 8 a.m. following a great breakfast. We read from portions of Philippians 1, 2, and 4 as we headed north for the day.
Amphipolis
Using the ring road around Thessaloniki, we drove north on one of Greece’s many great highways Amphipolis. The city was established in the 4th century BC and was visited by Paul (Acts 17). We saw the famous lion statue here from the 4th century BC.
Philippi
We re-boarded our bus and continued north. After a short rest stop, arrived at Philippi. We saw the theater, the Late Roman basilicas, the forum (marketplace), and the Praetorium (judgement hall, the most likely place of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment). We read from Acts 16 about God’s miraculous intervention on behalf of Paul and Silas. The jailor placed his faith in Christ that night too. We also got a quick glance of the traditional location for the prison of Paul and Silas (although this is a 2nd century structure and used as a cistern).
Following lunch and just outside the site of Philippi, we visited the river outside the city. It was somewhere along the Zygaktes River where Lydia (from Thyatira) heard and received the kingdom message of Christ from Paul and Silas (Acts 16). She and her household also received Christ and were baptized. Paul also confronted a Pythia, or fortune teller. She may have been one who gave oracles at Delphi (we visit this site in two days).
Kavala/Neopolis
Leaving Philippi and following a panoramic of the modern city of Kavala, we descended down to the harbor of the city once called Neopolis in Paul’s day. Paul sailed into this port following his Macedonian vision at Troas (Acts 16).Today, only the Late Roman aqueduct and the Byzantine (later Ottoman) fortress can been seen archaeologically. Outside a Greek Orthodox Church a modern monument is erected honoring Paul’s journey here. We also saw the aqueduct.
“Today was our first full day here in Greece. We traveled north to Amphipolis, Philippi, and Neapolis (Kavala). We literally walked in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. It was a great first day of connecting with the world of the New Testament.”
Downtown Thessaloniki
Before arriving back at our hotel in Thessaloniki we drove to the Roman Forum (marketplace) in the heart of the city. This was the marketplace mentioned in Acts 17 where Paul was. The text mentions a man named Jason who helped Paul and Silas. The text also mentioned the “city officials” (in Greek, Politarchs, as found on an inscription discovered here from the 2nd century AD). We also remembered certain believers mentioned by name (Aristarchus and Secundus) who were from this city (Acts 20:4, Romans 16). They served as later companion travelers with Paul. About one block away we made a brief stop to the Church of St Demetrius. This was an ancient church dedicated after Demetrius, a martyr who died in 303 AD. Today this well-used Greek Orthodox Church is a landmark in the city.
We returned to our hotel nearby at 7:15 for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Wednesday, July 3: Berea, Vergina, Meteora, Kalambaka
