Philippi, Kavala (Neapolis), and Thessaloniki - Day 1 of Trip - PART I (Greece)

Our first full day in Greece begin in Philippi.  It was at this very river side (pictured above) where St. Paul baptized his very first convert after arriving in Europe. The baptism of St. Lydia is chronicled in the Acts of the Apostles.  Her conversion was the beginning of the formation of the Christian Community in Philippi, which we have become familiar with trhough St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians.  There is a beautiful Greek Orthodox Church at this location, as well as a man-made island recently built with the cooperation of Evangelical Christians from the United States.  Photos of both the church and the island are attached.  

The hillside behind the church.

Mosaics above the 3 front doors of the church.

St. Lydia is in the middle.

Our instructor during the trip, Scott Brodeur, SJ, listening to the professional guide who is describing the interior of the church.

Scott pointing to the interior mosaic of the dome of the church.

Icon of St. Lydia at the entrance to the church.

Scott with our professional guide from Thessaloniki, Barbara, who was both knowledgable and a delight to be with throughout the first part of our trip.

Scott Brodeur, SJ is preaching during the Mass from the man-made island in the middle of the river where St. Lydia was baptized, with the sabbatical priests sitting on the bank of the river.

The 3 Jesuits gather at the river!

After our visit to the river where St. Lydia was baptized by St. Paul, we visited the ruins of the city of Philippi where St. Paul preached the gospel when he first arrived in Greece.  

Our guide, Barbara, introduces us to the ruins of Philippi as we arrive at the site.

A current day marker which indicates the Via Egnatia, a road built by the Romans to connect the cities of Greece.  It is the very road on which St. Paul walked during his 3 separate journeys in Greece.

A section of the Via Egnatia in the city of ancient Philippi, the stones of which St. Paul walked on!

A section of the ruins of the first basilica built in Philippi.  It is in this section of the basilica where the bishop would have been seated to advise people who would go to him for help.

The actual cell where St. Paul was held for a short time as a prisoner in Philippi.

Scott is referring to the scriptural texts citing St. Paul's imprisonment in Philippi.

The steps leading to the ruins of the theatre at Philippi.

Ruins of the theatre at Philippi.

Scott and I are about to board the bus to go to our next destination to have lunch, the city of Kavala (referred to in Scripture as Neapolis).