"Friday, June 6 – Pilgrimage Story 4"

In front of the Corinth Archaeological Museum.

1 Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the mystery of God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1–2)

Corinth Canal

Sharing the Journey of Day Four

Today, I share the story of our fourth day of pilgrimage. After driving about an hour and a half from Athens, we arrived in Corinth—and the first thing we encountered was the Corinth Canal. This canal, which connects the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea, was initially started by Emperor Nero using Jewish laborers, completing about one-fourth of it. It was finally completed in 1893 by French engineers.

Temple of Apollo

This canal provides context for the historical and economic backdrop of Corinth, a city where the Apostle Paul personally planted a church. The location’s strategic geography helps us understand why so many people were drawn to Corinth—because of trade routes. It also helps us imagine why Paul chose this place as a site for early Christian mission.

Inside the Corinth Museum, we took a photo together in front of a design that looked similar to the Yeolin Church logo.

The city of Corinth itself is a massive open-air museum. One of the most striking sights is the Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest temples in existence. In today’s terms, it might be comparable to a place where people sought omens or fortune-telling. The columns were carved from single massive stones, and their scale and craftsmanship are truly awe-inspiring. The temple dates back to the 6th century BCE—simply amazing.

At the Corinth Archaeological Museum, we encountered an overwhelming amount of historical information. It’s honestly hard to retain it all. But personally, I was struck by how the artifacts revealed that many ethnic groups once lived in this area, that Corinth was as morally chaotic as Paul describes, that medical practices were quite advanced, and that due to the city’s vibrant trade, there was a rich exchange and blending of Eastern and Western cultures.

In front of the Bema in Corinth—at the center stands a white stone pillar where criminals were once whipped. The Apostle Paul, however, was released even before he had a chance to plead his innocence at the Bema.

The Corinthian church that relocated to the city of New Corinth.

Next to the Corinthian Church, there is a list of the names of its pastors throughout history:1st Pastor – Paul,2nd – Apollos,3rd – Silas,4th – Sosthenes.Currently, the 90th pastor is serving the church.

This is the Corinthian Church that was relocated to the city of New Corinth, now known as the Paul Memorial Church. After the church originally built on the Bema was destroyed by an earthquake in 1928, it was moved to its current location on Sindos Road.

The first lead pastor of the Corinthian Church was the Apostle Paul. The second was Apollos, the third was Silas, and the fourth was Sosthenes, who was beaten in place of Paul. The church that Paul planted has continued through the centuries, and today, the 90th pastor is serving the congregation.

While we were exploring the Corinthian Church, the pastor came and kindly opened the church doors for us. Inside, we were able to see the traditional Greek Orthodox style.

At the port site of Cenchreae, reflecting on Paul’s vow.

The Panathenaic Stadium located in downtown Athens.

On our way back to the hotel after dinner, we stopped by the Panathenaic Stadium in downtown Athens. Evangelis Zappas and Georgios Averoff generously sponsored most of the funding needed to completely reconstruct the stadium in preparation for the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896.

Prayer

Lord, as we walk on the land of Corinth, we reflect on the heart of the Apostle Paul, who preached the gospel here. Help us to live not boasting in the wisdom or power of the world, but in the cross of Christ alone. May our community not be divided like the Corinthian church, but be united in love, building up the body of Christ together. Let today’s pilgrimage be a time for me to lay down pride and self-glory, and to stand once more at the foot of the cross, relying only on grace.In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Intercessory Prayer

1. This Sunday, the Hanul Sori Children's Choir will be performing during our all-generation worship service. It promises to be a joyful and grace-filled time of worship!

2. The Boy Scouts will be working on our church garden at 9 a.m. tomorrow and again at 9 a.m. on Sunday. If you are available, please feel free to join and help out. We are planning to use the Education Building as a place of rest and hospitality. We are looking for volunteers who can be present and offer assistance in various ways.

3. Please come and support the New Choir concert!👉 New Choir Performance – Reserve Tickets Here