It’s a Small World

Corinth

Located on a narrow (3.8 mile wide) land bridge between mainland Greece and the Peloponnes Peninsula, Corinth was a powerful city in Paul’s day. With access to two Seas and full control over all overland traffic between the two regions, they had it made. Because sailing around the Peloponnes Peninsula was so difficult, the Corinthians built a paved road across the land where ships could be dragged from one Sea to the other. Eventually a marvelous canal was dug for the same purpose, but by the time it was finished in 1893, ships had improved and grown, so sailing around wasn’t a big deal. It’s pretty amazing to look at! We stopped to gaze into it’s depths at least 3 times on this trip, and tried to imagine digging the thing. It was started by Nero in 67 AD, but they gave up when he died. At its deepest point, the canal is 260 ft down. Today it’s used for pleasure crafts and bungee jumping. We watched several freaked out individuals fall over the edge only to be dangled by their ankles for way too long in my opinion. Looked perfectly hideous! I wished they would scream more. Didn’t seem natural.

It’s an awesome feeling, standing in the ancient city site at Corinth where Aquila and Priscilla and Paul spent their days. Seeing the same mountains, the same blue seas dotted with ships, the same judgement seat where Paul stood and faced Gallio. A very fine dog met us in the parking lot and proceeded to tour the site with us. If he got weary of our lingering here or there, he would take a quick nap, only to rise with joy when we moved on.

There’s not much to see here besides the judgment seat. You can go a couple of kilometers away and see the site of the Greek games where every four years a massive tent city sprung up as athletes and spectators from the known world gathered. It is assumed that the Biblical threesome may have been servicing this tent city, as they were tent makers. It is while in Corinth that Paul writes about running the race and beating the air (boxing).

Nearby is a tall hill that for years had a large fortification on top. By the time Paul came along the Romans had destroyed the elaborate Temple to Aphrodite on top, but it must have still been a beautiful place. The whole place has been rebuilt several times and now you can climb the hill and wander among the different layers of ruins, peer into rock caves, climb ancient steps and drink in the absolutely stunning views. Wild flowers grew in profusion among the crumbling rock walls. We gazed across the valleys, where every square foot seemed to be covered in gray green olive trees, to the towering snow capped mountains beyond. No wonder Paul stayed for a while.

Philipi

The site of Philipi is huge. We had a bit of a time finding the correct entrance, as they randomly seem to shut gates as seemeth best unto them. After a cheerful woman hollered at us from an upper window at the museum entrance and explained where to go, we eventually got in. We ambled around the lovely ruins while listening to the sound of weed eaters. It is the time of weed eating in Greece. Everywhere we go someone is wacking the flowers back and getting things cleaned up for the masses of tourists due to arrive in a couple of weeks. Philipi is where Paul and Silas sang in prison and there was an earthquake. There is still an ancient prison here that is allegedly the same one. We peered into it’s depths and imagined. It is built into a cave, so maybe that’s why in the story only the door fell open.

Lydia was also baptized here, and we visited the local stream and church on the baptismal site. It was gorgeous and peaceful and I lay on the grass and fell asleep, apparently missing an epic painting inside the church. Oops.

Athens

I should love Athens, with its ancient history and good food. Instead I find it crowded and expensive. There’s hardly any flowers and trees. But there certainly are cats! How I do love the cats of Greece. You rarely see a wall or bench or curb or parked motorbike without a cat on it. Cats are at all the restaurants and cruising down the street. I took note that they look both ways before crossing a street.

Back to Paul’s Athens. We all know the story of Mars Hill, where people gathered to philosophize and Paul preached. Today the hill is still crowded with people, mostly taking selfies and gazing at Athens spread out below or the Acropolis rising above. And yes, as we witnessed first hand, there are still passionate preachers up there. This particular one didn’t seem quite as inspired as Paul, as he had obviously decided that “God is the master craftsman” sounded very majestic so he popped it in as often as possible. It made some of his thoughts a little hard to follow, bless his heart. We had just sat down to read Paul’s sermon when he revved up. Meanwhile a most questionable woman came and stood nearby, doing only she knows what, but it involved an orange wig, lots of gold bangles and a camera. I had trouble being a bit irked at the interruptions when we just wanted to think about Paul for a minute please, but I suddenly realized that this was probably exactly how it was when he was here. People everywhere, some bad, some noisily preaching, some searching, all types from all over, and so I soaked it up. And was ever so grateful for what we have.

Thessoloniki

We came here too, but frankly, there’s not a lot of Paul stuff left. Some old city walls, a few Roman toilets, etc in the ancient forum, and that’s about it. It was our base to visit Philipi from, so we slept and ate and saw what we could. To be honest the most interesting thing in the city, besides more cats, was an old Byzantine fortress called Heptapyrgion Fortress that was used as a prison up til 1989. You could tour the place and even sit in the solitary confinement cells while your husband locked you in and walked away. They were little rooms with thick stone walls covered in plaster. The doors had a teeny window to let light in, but that’s it. I sat on the floor in the darkness after the door clanged shut and was pleased to see, where the tiny patch of sunlight hit the wall, scratches and a date. Obviously one of the prisoners was counting his days in confinement, and doing it where the sun cast a little light. It’s easy to get into the spirit of such a place and try to feel the feels. All too soon I was let out and once again in the safe world of today, but now my interest in the place is thoroughly piqued.