Sep 27, Philippi, Part 1

Hello everyone!

This day is a 2 part email again.  The first on is about Paul meeting Lydia at Philippi.  The second one is about Paul and Silas beaten and imprisoned at Philippi.


We began today in Kavala (green dot on map), and journeyed north towards Philippi (red dot on map).  Philippi is pronounced, fil-EEE'-pee, in Greek.

We pick up where we left off yesterday in Acts 16, verse 11....

From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis (Kavala, today). From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭11-15‬ NIV)

On the way, there is a church commemorating this very passage and memorializing Lydia as the first recorded European christian conversion and baptism.  Lydia, a woman, is a leader in her community.  Being a dealer in purple cloth meant she also was influential and wealthy.  In those days, purple dye was very expensive and rare, being that it was so hard to make.  Purple cloth was reserved for the wealthy. 

There is a small chapel by the river where Paul would have met Lydia, the first recorded European christian.

To commemorate Lydia's baptism, we had our own remembrance of baptism ceremony and liturgy:

My good friends Pam Metz (left) and Diane Rhea (right), both from Atlanta, GA, at the river chapel.

My friend, Nita Adams, of Dunwoody UMC, Atlanta, GA.

A Byzantine iconography of Lydia, the first recorded European christian. 

To be continued.....

Ying