Greece in the Footsteps of St. Paul, Part 1

In the Footsteps of St. Paul

A Pilgrimage to Greece

and Ephesus—Part 1

A program for Colts Neck Reformed Church

By Connie Paul, one of the pilgrims

with pictures and media from four other travelers

May 3 and 17, 2009

Based on a trip led by Dennis Dewey, Sacred Story Journeys,Through Alpha Christian Tours May 2008

Saul is Converted and Commissioned to the Gentiles

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” Acts 9:10-15

Saul, now Paul, comes to Europe at Philippi

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the

gospel to them. Acts 16:9-10    

Paul Comes to Europe on His Second Missionary JourneyPaul Comes to Europe on His Second Missionary Journey

We Begin Our Pilgrimage in Philippi

Storyteller Dennis Dewey tells the story at the river.

The Conversion of Lydia: Acts 16:11-15

We Renewed Our Baptismal Vows at Lydia’s River

The Bapistry at Philippi Next to the River

95% of Greeks are Greek Orthodox

Preaching on the Bema of the Synagogue and Archeology in the Agora

The Lilies of the Field

Thessaloniki from the Acropolis

Another view of the city

Paul in Thessaloniki: Acts 17:1-9

The Agia Sophia in Thessaloniki

Leaving Thessaloniki and coming to Beroea

The Grotto in Beroea Acts 17:10-15

A family preserved the Bema and built the Grotto

We gathered most evenings to share the day

Mount Olympus

One of thousands of roadside shrines

If you saw these granite columns, wouldn’t you build a monastery?

There were 24 built in the 1300 and 1400s.

This is Varlaam where we visited

The Pilgrims at Meteora

We don’t know that Paul came to Delphi but everyone else did!

Delphi held the oracle of Apollo

Paul Comes to Athens

Dennis Dewey, Storyteller

Paul Argues with the Greek Philosophers on Mars Hill Acts 17:22 - 40