After some rough seas, making it a true Pauline experience, we arrived in the port city of Macedonia Greece named Kavala. It was named Neapolis in St. Paul’s time.
Paul stepped off the ship for the first time on European soil. Arriving in Philippi we celebrated Mass on the shore of the Zigatis River (really a creek) where St. Paul proclaimed the Good News and baptized Lydia and others. Here we also renewed our baptismal vows.
We visited the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Lydia along the banks of the river with its magnificent icons and paintings of the events surrounding St. Paul’s visit here.
Then we saw the join where Paul was imprisoned (Acts 16) and the ruins of the ancient city. At the 2,400 year old Roman theatres I gave my shortened version of my talk “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
We then stopped at a nondescript spot where I knew there still existed a portion of the ancient Egnatian Way. So, we all walked in the footprints of St. Paul, literally.
After we returned to the ship Fr. Larry Richards’ gave his talk on repentance and everyone followed up with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then dinner and a free evening. Tomorrow to Istanbul (Constantinople).