Thessaloniki- Greece- Part 1

 

This tour is a bit different as we were rescheduled on a early 

afternoon flight when the airlines canceled 

our normal supper time flight.

So the group that left from Dulles had three hours 

to walk around and explore downtown city life.

The majestic symbol of Thessaloniki is the White Tower.

The tower houses a museum tracing the history of the city.

The present tower probably replaces an older Byzantine tower

 described  byt the 12th century Archbishop- Eustathius of

 Thessalonica when the city was rampaged in 1185.

The current tower guarded the eastern side of the city sea wall.

The current tower was constructed after the army of

 Sultan Murad II defeated Thessaloniki in 1430.

Through the years it has been a famous prison 

and the scene of numerous executions.

When Greece regained control over the city in 1912,

 it was remodeled and became the iconic symbol

 of the city on the waterfront.

                Another famous city site is the Arch of Galarius.

The triumphal arch was built by the city between 

298 and 305 AD to celebrate the Roman Emperor Galerius

 and his victory over the Persians. It is a beautiful example of

 Byzantine art and architecture. The carvings are amazing to view.

        The nearby Rotunda was built about 306 AD as a mausoleum 

for Galerius, but then he died and was buried in Serbia.

It was later converted into a Christian church and used 

in this way for over 1,200 years till the city fell to the Ottomans.

It became a mosque in 1590.

       In our walk about the city we went into this beautiful church. 

Tried to find the name but it was all Greek to me.

Ornate, peaceful and many areas of golden light

 pouring in the windows.

A part of our lovely walking tour.

Worship into the Week- Pay Attention

 

Worship into the Week-

Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus

Acts 16: 9-15

Paul has the vision of the man 

asking him to come to Macedonia.

He sails into Neopolis, modern day Kavala.

This is from our May 2025 visit there.

He heads to Philippi, a major city of that district

 of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

On the Sabbath he goes a little way outside 

of the city to a riverbank 

hoping to find people there in prayer.

The riverbank outside of Philippi.

The Church- The Baptistry of Lydia

There he met Lydia from Thyatira, 

who was a merchant of expensive purple cloth.

She was a worshiper of God.

She listened, paid attention 

and the Lord opened her heart.

She accepted what Paul was saying.

She and her household were baptized 

and Paul and company stayed as her guests.

This small church stands 

where this story took place by the river.

It is a beautiful church

and it is used especially for baptisms.

As we visited this day in May 2025,

 a huge storm suddenly

 broke loose and we fled to the church for shelter.

Suddenly a massive thunder clap brought us

 to attention and we certainly felt 

the presence of God close by.

As we waited out the storm we thought about

this story and 

how a simple faith can change the world.

This small stream serves as a reminder 

that it doesn't have 

to be majestic gold-gilt 

to catch our heart on a Footsteps of Paul journey.

This remains oe of my favorite spots on our tour.

Cape Sounion- Greece

 

Cape Sounion-

The Temple of Poseidon is located on the promontory

 at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula.

It is south of the town of Lavrio. 

When traveling between Cape Sounion and modern day Piraeus,

 the Athens port, you would pass by Cape Sounion itself 

and the Temple of Poseidon.

The beautiful blue waters of the Aegean Sea.

The Temple was constructed in 444-440 BC on the seaside cliff.

It was built on the remains of an earlier structure that was nearly

 finished in  480 BC. Then the Persians invaded Attica in 480 BC 

sacking the sanctuary, the worksite and destroying the temple.

• Around 323 BCE: Throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the temple continues to gain prosperity, and attract more and more followers. 
• 1st to 3rd century AD: With the rise of Christianity and the decline of Pagan worship, the Temple of Poseidon is slowly abandoned.
• 18th & 19th century: The temple is re-discovered by European travelers, who begin documenting their journeys to Cape Sounion. 
• Late 20th century: The Greek Archaeological Society restores a portion of the archaeological site of Cape Sounion. A few sections of Poseidon’s Temple are also restored. By the turn of the century, it begins to attract the attention of tourists. 

We know that in the year 51 Paul went to Athens by boat. Athens was no longer the bright city of classical times. Works of art had been pillaged and Athens was in decline. He probably anchored in Faliro near the Kifissos river.  (Currently a river buried under the sprawling city of Athens.) We can't be sure exactly what Paul saw as he entered the harbor, but the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon would have been a landmark for all seamen. Paul would have seen the same blue waters and coastline. He would have noticed the islands that dot the waters. Sometimes on a Footsteps of Paul Tour, it is challenging to scrape away all the layers and years to get the View. This site may help us to See What Paul Saw. Time in Athens was difficult for Paul.  

Standing here on the top of this windy cliff helps us to hear the heartbeat of Paul beating for the people of the city of Athens.

Adding in here some photos from our 2022 trip in March.

The light was very different. And VERY WINDY and cold.

Footsteps of Paul- Corinth

 

The Acropolis of Corinth - also called the Acrocorinth-

stands as a huge outcrop of rock in Corinth. 

This high peak was home to the Temple of Aphrodite 

and had over 1,000 sacred prostitutes.

The Temple later was turned into a Christian church

 and then a mosque.

Corinth is located on the Isthmus of Corinth 

which is the narrow land that joins the mainland 

of Greece with the Peloponnesus. 

It is halfway between Athens and Sparta.

Corinth was one of the largest cities in Greece 

and because of its location it became very rich.

In 146 BC, Corinth was captured by the Romans 

who were very cruel. They burned the city and killed all

 of the men and the women and children 

were sold into slavery.

The city was abandoned until Julius Caesar began to use it

 as a place to retire his troops in 44 BC. 

The city regrew to include Jews, Greeks and Romans. 

The strategic location was an important detail for St. Paul.

 He first visited the city in AD 51 or 52.

He stayed for 18 months, started the church there and 

worked with Priscilla and Aquila.

The remains of the Temple of Apollo.

This sixth-century B.C. ruin is one of the oldest 

stone temples in Greece. It is built on a hill overlooking

 the Agora-(marketplace).

This Temple was still functioning in Paul's time. 

It was eventually destroyed by an earthquake, 

but these original Doric columns still stand. 

Shops along the Forum were a busy spot in Corinth.

The city was known for its immorality. 

To "corinthisize" something meant to corrupt it. 

The Isthmian Games were held here the year before

 and the year after the Olympics. This brought huge crowds

 to the city who stayed in tent communities and this helped

Paul's tent making business.

Our guide said the party was the coming together of the

 Olympics and the Super Bowl in a Las Vegas environment. 

Throw in 1000's of sailors coming to port 

and the temple prostitutes.

Paul would have also been interested in all those who came

 to visit the Asclepion, a temple dedicated to the deified 

Greek physician Asclepius.

We know that Paul visited Corinth for about 3 months

 when he wrote the book of Romans.  (Acts 20:3)

Paul reasoned in the synagogue here in Corinth.

This is the BEMA in the Roman Forum. 

The leaders would have set on this platform 

when Paul was brought before them.

Paul would have stood on the ground 

by the stand (Top right) before Gallio-

 the Roman Governor when the Corinthians brought 

charges against him. (c. A.D. 52)

A sharp-eyed member of our group spotted this in the ruins.

CONCORDIA.

Concordia was the Roman goddess of harmony and peace.

In my faith community,

 it is a meaningful name for schools and seminaries

 in our Lutheran tradition.

Corinth was destroyed by earthquakes in A.D. 365 and

 375 and by a Visigoth invasion in 396. Walls were erected

 in the 6th century to protect it but it continued to decline.

There are many significant ties to Paul at this site.

It is a city that loved sports and our guide has said 

the life here was like the Olympics in a city 

with the reputation of Las Vegas

and then add in Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.

Add in about 1000 Temple prostitutes

All in one.

We know that Paul used metaphors here 

with what the people knew.

He did not shy away from a place living

 lifestyles very unlike his own.

He knew how much the people of Corinth 

needed to hear about Jesus.

 

Footsteps of Paul-The Lion Monument of Amphipolis

 

This massive and stunning monument is a 4th century BC tomb 

structure near Amphipolis, Macedonia in Northern Greece.

It is believed to have been constructed to honor Laomedon

of Mytilene, who was a superior general of Alexander the Great, 

king of Macedon.

It is now located about 1 km outside the south gate 

of the ancient city. Authorities are uncertain of its original

 location but it would have been visible when St. Paul 

traveled through this area on his missionary travels.  

It may have been part of a Tomb Structure 

in ancient Amphipolis.

The lion now sits alongside the Via Egnatia 

described in Acts 17:1.

The rediscovery of it is more modern.

It was found by Greek soldiers in the First Balkan War

in 1912-13 when they drained the Strymonas River bed,

It seems that part of the lion had been recycled to build a dam

in or after the Roman period to build a more modern bridge.

Later, British soldiers found more of the monument in 1916,

during WWII. In the early 1930's more pieces of the lion 

were discovered when they drained part of Lake Kerkini. 

Finally in 1937, the US ambassador in Greece 

created funding to restore the Lion of Amphipolis.

The Lion may have once been at the top

 of the Amphipolis tomb.

This is located on the Hill of Kasta near Amphipolis

and it is believed that these tombs hold great secrets.

Excavation began in 1964 and they entered the 

first tomb in August 2014.

It is the largest ancient tumulus-burial mound

ever discovered in Greece and by comparison 

dwarfs that of Philip II of Macedon, 

father of Alexander the Great in Vergina.

It opened in April 2023 to researchers, scientists 

and tour operators 

and plans are to open it to the public in 2027.

Footsteps of St. Paul- Delphi

 

The Treasury at Delphi

was constructed by the 

Athenians to house dedications and votive offerings

 made by their city and citizens at the sanctuary

of Apollo. The entire treasury including 

its sculptural decoration

 is built of Parian marble.  

Opinions defer on construction dates from  

510 to 480 BCE.

One site declares it was built with the spoils 

from the Battle of Marathon fought in 490 BCE

 against the Persians.

The legendary name is Python, 

and it was an ancient sacred precinct

 and the seat of Pythia. 

This was the major oracle who was consulted about 

major decisions in the classical Greek world.

The ancient Greeks considered the 

center of the world to be in Delphi.

This was because of the stone monument

 known as the omphalos- navel, 

which is shown above.

The original stone is held in the museum of Delphi,

here on the site is a simplified copy.

The site is now an extensive archeological site since 1938

 as part of the Parnassos National Park.

Temple of Apollo - Delphi

Dedicated to the god of music, harmony, 

light and healing.

The edifice with the partially restored colonnade 

dates to the 20th century BC.

There were 5 temples built throughout history.

It is a beautiful view from this site.

The Temple of Apollo was built on an intersecting fault line.

The Pythia would sit on the "navel seat" 

that emitted a mixture of hallucinogenic gases. 

It was probably a mixture of ethane, methane and ethylene

 which was one of the world's first anesthetics.

The famous oracle, the Pythia, 

known as the Oracle of Delphi operated

 inside the temple.

This location was chosen due to the sacred chasm

 beneath the site editing vapors,

 which were inhaled by the Pythia.

This influential voice belonged to a woman 

and no important leader would make a 

major decision without consulting this voice. 

Getting to Delphi was a complicated journey 

and thousands of visitors sought guidance 

from this holy woman and this made the 

town of Delphi rich.

Everyone knew about Delphi. 

 As Saint Paul traveled throughout Greece,

 it would have been a part of the culture 

that he was "up against". He told the people 

about the real power of the voice of the world- Jesus.

He ran into this in Phillipi with the girl 

with the spirit of divination- the fortune-telling girl.

and the challenges of reversing the premise of 

who holds the future of the world.

Footsteps of Paul- Mars Hill

 

This are the the ancient stairs 

leading to the top of Mars Hill.

The wear and tear is showing on them 

and access to the top is now with a new set of stairs.

Mars Hill is the Roman name 

for a hill in Athens, Greece 

which is called Hill of Ares or Aeropagus.

Ares was the Greek god of war and their myths

 claimed that this was the spot that Ares stood trial

 before the other gods for the murder of Poseidon's son.

The top of the hill is 377 above the land below.

It is close to the Acropolis.

It is close to the Agora (Marketplace) also.

Mars Hill was the meeting place 

for those serving at the Aeropagus Court. 

This court dealt with religious, criminal and civil issues.

Saint Paul brings significance to this site 

with the story in Acts 17:16-34.

In his second missionary journey,

 this was the place for one of his most

 important Gospel messages.

Here he speaks to the Greeks about their idols,

 specifically their "Unknown God." 

Paul gives an excellent example of 

"understanding his audience."

He met them right where they were 

and then continued to lay out the Gospel message

 in a Biblical and logical way.

Christian apologetics at its best.

He started with the false beliefs that they held

 and then moved to a simple presentation 

of the Gospel message.

Paul perfected his missionary methods 

and started out in the synagogues, 

then moved to the marketplaces.

The Epicureans and Stoics he met there heard 

about the resurrected Jesus. 

They "brought him to the Areopagus" 

to hear more about this "new doctrine."

Connie and Lisa Latall
 

John and Connie on a windy day on Mars Hill.

The message of 

St Paul's speech on Mars Hill is an encouragement to us

 to be bold in the proclamation of the Gospel message.

We know this "unknown God."

 There will always be scoffers and searchers, 

and maybe some will claim this Jesus.

We don't have to manage the outcome.

The Holy Spirit waters the planted seeds.

We just need to take the steps.

Meteora- Kalambaka, Greece

This is one of the monasteries in 

Meteora, Kalambaka, Greece.

The 1981 James Bond movie- For Your Eyes Only

used this site, making this view even more famous.

This is the Agia Triada Monastery and is one of the the 6 

remaining Monasteries. 

Meteora means "suspended in air, 

lofty or elevated".

They date from the 14th and 15th centuries,

and are perched on top of natural sandstone rock pillars 

on the Thessaly plain.

 

A view as we leave the area.  

They are an engineering feat 

and we tried to imagine 

just getting the supplies up there.

There were originally 24 of the precariously 

built Eastern Orthodox monasteries.

Meteora was added to the 

UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 

because of the amazing architecture, beauty of the complex,

as well as the religious and artistic significance.

Internet photo

St. Stephan - Agios Stefanos

is the only monestery

 you can reach by bus. 

It is believed to have been built in the 14th century,

 but has a much newer katolikon  

structure built in 1798.

There is a museum, and workrooms for 

paintings embroidery,

 incense-making and needlework.

The frescoes in the church were done about 1545.

The structures were heavily bombed, and raided in WWII,

as they thought the monks were hiding refugees.

It was converted to a nunnery in 1961,

and 28 nuns were living there in 2015.

The entrance to St. Charalambos' Church 

has a bridge that allows access.

St. Charalambos Church

honors this early Christian saint from Magnesia, 

a city in Asia Minor. He was martyred 

during the reign of Septimius Severus in 202 AD.

The art is beautiful and so are the grounds and gardens.

This the stunning view from St. Stephan's 

overlooking the town of Kalabaka.

wikipedia 

There is something mystical about these holy places

 that reach to the sky.

The world is certainly shut out here 

to focus on worship and listening to God.

May all that visit here hear His calling.

May I be reminded to embrace the quiet

 to hear the "still small voice".