"Pilgrimage Story – June 17, Entry 8"

"In front of the bema in Philippi, where Paul stood trial"

25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.(Acts 16:25–26)

On the final day of our pilgrimage, we continued our journey in Philippi. According to the Bible, the Apostle Paul passed through Philippi during his first, second, and third missionary journeys. In addition to these, it is presumed that he may have visited the city two more times.

Beneath the amphitheater! In the Greek era, they filled it with water for staged performances, but during the Roman period, they drained it and kept lions there for gladiator combats.

Philippi likely served as a kind of base camp for Paul's missionary work in Europe, especially as he began his first European ministry through Lydia.

The city was rebuilt in the 4th century BCE by King Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. During that time, a grand theater was also constructed.

In the Roman era, the structure of the theater was remodeled under the influence of the Roman Empire, and Roman-style entertainments such as gladiator fights and animal shows were held there.

This is the site of the Philippi Church of Love. You can see a heart-shaped column base here.

Nearby are the prison where Paul was held and the judgment seat.There were men who had been making money by exploiting a girl possessed by an evil spirit. When Paul cast the spirit out and healed her, they brought false charges against Paul and Silas. At the judgment seat, they were stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison.

Next to this area is the Via Egnatia, the ancient Roman road paved with stone that connected Philippi to Rome. The grooves left by passing chariots are still clearly visible today.

The traditional site of the prison where the Apostle Paul and Silas were held in Philippi

"The Via Egnatia – the ancient road that reminded travelers: 'All roads lead to Rome!'"

"On the stone-paved road, the deep grooves made by passing chariot wheels are still clearly visible."

"The mosaic is well preserved. You can observe architectural and artistic styles typical of that period. The church above features a baptismal font whose form differs from that of the Eastern Church, suggesting that it may belong to an earlier period of Christian worship.

Just like in Ephesus, we also find the symbol of the persecuted church—‘Jesus Christ, Savior’—represented by the Ichthys (fish) symbol along the Via Egnatia.

"This well-preserved mosaic offers a glimpse into the cultural and historical importance of Philippi."

"This baptismal font differs from the traditional style seen in Eastern churches and is thought to be an original design from the early Christian era."

"This is the circular form of the Ichthys symbol, just like the one we saw in Ephesus. It was an early Christian cryptic symbol that stood for: 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.'"

The next site we visited on our pilgrimage was the Lydia Memorial Church, built near the riverside outside the city gate—where Paul met Lydia.

After sailing from Troas, Paul arrived at Neapolis and immediately made his way up to Philippi. On the Sabbath, he went outside the city gate to the river, hoping to find devout Jews in prayer. There, he met Lydia.

Lydia was baptized without hesitation and invited Paul and Silas to her home, becoming a faithful supporter of their ministry. While Paul never used any mission funds sent from other churches for himself—choosing instead to use them solely for the needs of others—he did make use of the support sent by Lydia for his own sustenance.

"This is the riverside outside the city of Philippi, where the Apostle Paul first met Lydia in prayer."

"The church visible behind us is the Lydia Memorial Church, built in honor of Lydia’s encounter with the Apostle Paul."

Lastly, we arrived in Neapolis and visited the memorial church built on the site where Paul first set foot in Europe. To remember and honor that historic moment—when Paul began his mission to bring the gospel to Europe—we also took part in a symbolic act of “stepping in,” reenacting that first step of faith.

"Standing on an old stone pillar at the harbor of Neapolis, we symbolically took a first step—remembering how Paul may have first set foot on European soil right there."

At the memorial church in Neapolis, built to commemorate Paul’s arrival in Europe"

With this, we have come to the end of our pilgrimage journey.We traveled through Greece and Türkiye at a gentle pace—without rushing or overextending ourselves. Our focus was on the places Paul visited, the churches he planted, and other important Christian sites worth remembering.

In 2027, we plan to prepare another pilgrimage—this time to Italy—to follow the final journey of Paul and reflect on his martyrdom.

After completing our pilgrimage in Neapolis, we crossed over to Türkiye and spent two days in Istanbul before returning home. Our time in Istanbul was a cultural exploration, with highlights including visits to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. As an ancient international city, Istanbul offered a rich experience of diverse people, cultures, and history.

Prayer

God, we walk through this historical place where prayer and praise once brought forth a miracle—from the very prison in Philippi. Teach us to worship not based on circumstances, but in faith. Help us to sing not with fear, but with hope. Even in oppression, let us experience Your freedom.

Like Paul and Silas, may we lift up Your name wherever we are and become vessels of the gospel.In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

Intercessory Prayer

• Our youth are doing well at their retreat. It continues until Wednesday—please keep praying for God’s grace and guidance throughout the rest of the program.

• Tomorrow is our Wednesday Bible Study. Don’t forget to join us!

• The Boy Scouts built a beautiful garden for us. Though it's a little late in the season, if we plant wisely, we can still look forward to a good harvest in the fall.

Currently at Youth Retreat

Praising at the Retreat

This church garden was a special project completed by the Boy Scouts as a gift to our community.