Travelling Through Greece In the Steps of St Paul - a diversion to the Meteora Monasteries

 Tuesday - It's our fourth full day on this wonderful pilgrimage and we are going to visit the quite extraordinary Meteora monasteries perched high on gigantic rocks in the central Thessalia Plain, Not anything to do with Paul's second journey but as one of the largest and most important Greek Orthodox monastery complexes after Mount Athos it is an essential destination in this part of Greece.

Holy Monastery of St Stephen - the only one occupied by nuns

sunbathing cat

There were five coach loads in our hotel when we arrived last night together with a seemingly large number of hunky hairy bikers on a German motor cycle rally judging by all the gleaming machines parked outside - but such is the scale of the hotel and their efficiency that we are not unduly disturbed by such large numbers; indeed we have the gorgeous swimming pool to ourselves on our second afternoon here, some time to relax and perhaps reflect on and assimilate all our experiences to date.

the talanton

First we are going to visit the Agios Stephanos, or St Stephen's Holy Monastery, the most accessible monastery of them all, approached simply by a small bridge from the road. Later we will climb the 195 steps to Varlaam - actually not so daunting as they sound - and by coach see the outside of the other four monasteries open to the public.
There are various theories as to how this amazing landscape formed. Mara tells us that 60 - 10 million years ago the river deposited material here. Then a huge earthquake opened up the area to the Aegean Sea, which swept in and eroded all the soft rocks, leaving just the massive stacks we see today.
The first inhabitants were hermits who lived in caves high up in the rock faces.

There are sheltered porches around the outside of the churches here - I have noticed this elsewhere - and these provide shade for standing for services on very hot days. We also note the simple sounding boards to call the faithful to prayers or to be used as a warning sign, from the Noah legend.

Varlaam with The Holy Monastery
of St Nicholas Anapausas in background

Photographs inside the buildings are largely forbidden - and this is good as it does help one focus on the spirituality of the places rather than always reaching for the camera - take away memories, not photos, is often a good maxim. But the icons, wall paintings, embroideries, wood carvings and other artifacts are wonderful. Jesus Christ as the good judge is invariably in the domes of the churches, with the four evangelists in supporting panels beneath and with other saints around the base. 

those steps up to Varlaam

Many coach tours are arriving together as we approach St Stephens and we get shuffled around in our groups and it is very hard to find and feel the spirituality of this place.

We re-board our coach and on the way to Varlaam stop for more views and photo shots of other monasteries and so to lunch.

The Palazzo restaurant we go to for lunch is well organised for dealing with several coach parties at a time - we are welcomed with a Greek aperitif served smilingly by waiters in Greek national dress - a nice touch in what could otherwise be a cavernous and impersonal place - self service with clearly labelled and priced food - and the trays carried to the tables for us - another welcome idea.

   

 So to Varlaam and those 195 steps - Actually I only counted 115 to the top of the main flight - they then continue in easy low level steps to the top - these are wide and well constructed steps - and we had a cooling breeze - so it really is not as bad as it sounds - but perhaps avoid doing this in the midday heat.

I spy two lads right on the top of a rock - there is plenty of rock climbing around here unsurprisingly - they leave something behind - litter? Or camera? I hope neither! 
There are plenty more amazing photos here and here and plenty of greater detail about each of the monasteries to be readily found on line. With the hordes of tourists it can be quite difficult to find the spirit in these places but they are truly remarkable for all that.

panorama - spot the monasteries!

Travelling through Greece - In the Steps of St Paul - Verea

Loudias river

Monday dawns and we have a long day ahead as we leave Thessaloniki for the Meteora mountains - a place we are told will be quite beyond words. Along the way we will visit Beroea (now Veria), and the very modern monastery of The Holy Monastery of St John the Forerunner, in total isolation a few tortuous miles beyond the mountain village of Anatoli. 

paddy fields and egrets

We drive parallel with the coastline towards the site of Veria where St Paul went after his escape from Thessaloniki in the middle of the night Acts. This would have been a long trip for him. But he was rewarded by the people, Jews and Gentiles, who were all more open to his Gospel teaching than they had been in Thessaloniki. Jews from Thessaloniki however heard of Paul's success here and set out to incite trouble for him here, so again he moved on 17 vv 10-14

Now Verea is home to the largest wind farm in Greece.

 

Our journey out of Thessaloniki crosses a very large flat plain, with rice paddy fields as far as the eye can see. There are plenty of bulrushes in wet ditches and the pink Oleander is still lining the roadside. Lots of white egrets in the fields stand motionless and upright - watching for food in the water.  We're crossing the alluvial Axios Delta, known as well for its rich fishing, bird population and oyster farming as for its rice fields.

the Bema modern memorial 

We're soon approaching the mountains, appearing eerily in the distance through the haze across a patchwork of fields in the foothills. We cross the Loudias river. Its valley is fertile but the land is getting drier and the crops are changing to tobacco, potatoes, beans. Three labourers are hand-hoeing a huge field - hay is being made in another - and a road turns off for Veria.

in commune with St Paul

From the state of its attractive houses on the way into the centre of the village in our coach, Veria looks altogether wealthier than anywhere else we have seen.  Mara confirms that yes they have done quite well for themselves. This is a very fertile area for apricots, almonds, lettuce, cucumber. Also there was a huge fire in the 1930s which meant that many houses had to be replaced. Saffron is produced in a nearby village and ornamental bay trees adorn the sides of the main street we are driving down - all very pretty.

water melons for sale

There are many significant Byzantine monuments to explore here in Veria for the tourist but we head straight for the "bema", the oracle's podium or steps on which St Paul is said to have addressed the people eager to hear the Good News, set in a new memorial. 

In the centre is the bema itself with St Paul, and to the left and right mosaics commemorating his Macedonian Call and his preaching here respectively. 

St Paul

at the bema monument - minaret in distance

For those with time to spare here, I understand that the Anastasis Church is a must, with its spectactular frescoes from 1315. A coffee shop near to the bema serves the most excellent cappuchino and a bargain at only 1 Euro! One is tempted to pay more. A tip is welcome.

a colourful balcony in Veria

We soon have to retrace our steps and move on - and before long are passing close to Vergina, known for some of the most important archaeological finds in Greece, unearthed in the 20th century, including the Macedonian Tombs (among which is that of King Phillip II of Macedonia) and the ruins of the lavishly decorated Palace of Palatitsia from at least the 3rd century BC, maybe even earlier - many treasures from here are in Thessaloniki's Archaeological Museum and much more is likely to be found. 

We're back on the road in the direction of Mt Olympus and the Holy Monastery of St John the Forerunner.

Travelling through Greece - in the Steps of St Paul - Thessaloniki

sunrise in Kavala

Another lovely day has dawned. The fishing boats have left harbour by the time I awake - the sea is still and shimmering in the pink hue of dawn before the sun is fully risen. After an early breakfast we all make sure that our own bags have been placed on board and so we are off again in the coach bound for Thessaloniki, retracing our steps of the day we arrived and once again following in the steps of St Paul. 

Not much survives here from the 1st century BC but not only has it always been a thriving seaport, it is an important city for the spreading of the Christian gospel - there was a large Jewish community here and Paul preached several times at the synagogue albeit with little success, but many pagans and women were open to his message, some taking it so literally that they ceased work as they waited for the second coming, understood to be imminent. But he thereby also infuriated many Jews, who mobbed Jason's house where the apostles were lodging. So Paul and Silas set off once more this time for Beria. (Acts 16:11-17:14)

Much of the highway we are following from Kavala to Thessaloniki is easy on the eye - with plenty of pink Oleander, tall cypress trees and dramatic rock faces interspersed with woodland and agricultural tracts of land.

We cross the Strymonas River near to the city of Amphipolis, an important city for Philip II - this very fertile area of Macedonia was much fought over. Paul, Silas and Timothy used this as a staging post on their way west to Thessaloniki from Kavala. 

on the seafront at Thessaloniki

We do not have time to detour to see the Lion of Amphipolis, reassembled from 4th century fragments and guarding the mouth of the river. It is quite probable that the apostles saw and appreciated the splendid mane and glaring eyes of this huge statue. Amphipolis made headlines recently with the discovery of a huge funeral monument - to a woman - who could be Alexander the Great's mother Olympias so there is obviously a  huge interest. But there is also controversy and uncertainty as the research continues. There is a superb website where full analysis is available with 3D and interactive representations.

the White Tower

The modern service areas on this new road are superb. At our comfort stop today along the road we enjoy great coffee overlooking the Aegean Sea - and no queues for the loo either! We see storks flying over the Volvi lake - this is good luck for Greeks. Suddenly a loud bang - the lorry we are about to overtake blows a tyre - lots of dust and debris fly up - our driver skilfully avoids a more serious mishap. Few seem to wear seat belts here - even young children.

Workers are hand tending grapes, small herds of cows are seen but they are few and far between, a man kneeling in his field waves to us - he is planting something, but I cannot see what? A solitary manual job but he is clearly happy. Grain is being harvested - there are beautiful red poppies among the oats or barley. Nearer to Thessaloniki farming is on a larger scale. There is a large American Genetics factory . Here is not the forum for me to delve deeper into my own concerns re genetic modification if that is what they do. Then we see lots of closed down industrial units on industrial estates on the outskirts of the city. It all seems very sad, looking for all the world as if the owners just locked up one night and walked away from their failed businesses leaving vehicles to seemingly rot away in the yards.

up at citadel above Thessaloniki

So we arrive. I love the way Mara our guide pronounces Thessaloniki, with emphasis on the "al" and the "iki"! 

First we have a brief photo stop down on the port front, to see the imposing White Tower, and statue of Alexander the Great. We stroll down to the water's edge - it is very pleasantly warm at 11.30 in the morning and there are plenty of families strolling and relaxed - in spite of all their troubles - as Mara puts it: "how unhappy can you be in this sunshine?"

Then we drive up to Ano Polis, the highest point, to the Acropolis and what remains of the city walls - just 8km. There are panoramic views up here and on a clear day Mount Olympus can be seen more than 62 miles away.

We can see churches everywhere here.

Agia Sophia - wedding in progress

In 1917 seventy percent of the old city was destroyed by a great fire starting in a kitchen, destroying much of the Jewish quarters, which gave the city planners the opportunity to come up with a chance to redesign the layout.

Up at the citadel we have a short reading (Philippians1:27-30, Paul urging the young church in Philippi not to be intimidated by their opponents) and we reflect on "turning the world upside down" - and how the residents here must also have felt about Paul's visit. We sing the hymn: "City of God, how broad and far Outspread thy walls sublime!" and have a short prayer.

St Demetrius Basilica 

On our way through the town we see the new construction of the metro underground in progress - it is taking a long time Mara tells us because of cost, budget cuts and austerity measures, and archaeological discoveries which intervene - this will bring huge improvement to the city once completed and it is popular with students.

Taxis in Kavala were orange and white - here they are blue and white - in Athens they will be yellow - different cities had different colours - you knew where you were by the colour! Colours still stick although no longer obliged by regulation.

There is so much Graffiti - Mara says this is mostly about football and not political - but surely much elsewhere is political?

The condition of many houses seems appalling - even when occupied! This is because ownership is often not clear - they could have been lived in by Armenians, Jews, Muslims we are told - who have moved out and they then get very rundown. It is of course difficult to sort out ownership without deeds but the Greeks are trying to sort this out. 

Now it is time to visit some of the important churches here...Agia Sophia and St Demetrius Basilica - described next...

Travelling through Greece - in the Steps of St Paul - back in Kavala

Fire breaks zig-zag crazily down through the forests - fire must be a real hazard here in such searing temperatures and tinder dry vegetation. It is a big asparagus growing area - we see the fields on our way back to Kavala - bright orange pots are for sale at the roadside - all one price - 5 Euro. Allotments look very much like mine at home - complete with scarecrows. We pass remnants of the original Via Egnatia - and plenty of beehives - plus many little road side shrines - commemorating victims of road accidents. We visited Philippi this morning and have the rest of the day free in Kavala to have lunch and explore further.We see plenty of 1920s refugee accommodation lining the streets coming down into old city - contrasting sharply with the stunning views of the port laid out below us.

beehives

 Barley is being grown in quantity for the local Fix beer - which is very good - and is now building up its own export business. Thinking of beer, it is lunch time. There are plenty of water front tavernas plying their trade. The appetizers are all huge and it is obviously expected that a variety of appetizers are ordered and shared between a group - that is clearly the way to do it - like Georgia and Jerusalem and Turkey on previous pilgrimages. The double headed eagle by the port is symbol of the Byzantine empire.

  

locals enjoying the Kavala beach

Kavala beach

After lunch I take myself off to explore the coast to the west of the hotel - I shared my breakfast table this morning with a lady who is staying in the hotel while she visits a friend in the town and I mistook her on the first morning for a member of our group. She has told me that there is a swimming beach further round from the port, where the locals play and swim and I'm off to find it. It is quite a walk, given the afternoon heat. I go through the incredible aftermath of the Saturday street market - rubbish galore, but all being meticulously swept up by two men with nothing more than two small besom type brooms. Tomorrow there will be no trace left and all will be clean and tidy again. But as I leave the old town and port and approach the beach side promenade there is a dramatic change. The prom is but a shadow of its former glory - gardens neglected and everything including three changing cubicles on the beach itself so run down, with graffiti just about everywhere. The sand is very gritty but the sea is certainly not cold and local families are out in force enjoying themselves all along the beach. Paddling and swimming in the sea and enjoying the sand is free entertainment where financial worries can be put aside for a while.

interesting art/graffiti

Walking back to the hotel through the town itself it is suddenly eerily deserted. Most of the shops seem to be shuttered for the siesta and there appears to be a storm brewing. The atmosphere has become very heavy and thick black clouds are visible in the distance. Near the back entrance to the hotel I come upon a plinth commemorating Alexander the Great. An elderly Greek man comes up to me and starts gesticulating wildly. Have I done something wrong? But he seems friendly and after many smiles and waving of arms I understand that he is simply telling me what a very great man Alexander the Great was.

Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a King of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. July 356 BC to 323 BC, His father was Philip II of Macedon, his mother Olympias. By the age of thirty he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, a new Hellenistic civilization and features prominently in the history and myth of Greek and non Greek cultures. Along with his teacher Aristotle he is often thought of as one of the most influential people of all time.

Enticing cake shop Kavala

On the side of the statue as I walk around it I see a plaque recording the oath which Alexander the Great gave at Opis in 324 BC, just one year before he died, at a banquet before 9,000 Greek and Asian officers. Below is not perhaps quite the exact translation recorded in Kavala - but it's close. Please read it - oh if only!

Alexander the Great Plinth Kavala

“It is my wish, now that wars are coming to an end, that you should all be happy in peace. From now on, let all mortals live as one people, in fellowship, for the good of all. See the whole world as your homeland, with laws common to all, where the best will govern regardless of their race. Unlike the narrow -minded, I make no distinction between Greeks and barbarians. The origin of citizens, or the race into which they were born, is of no concern to me. I have only one criterion by which to distinguish their virtue. For me, any good foreigner is a Greek and any bad Greek is worse than a barbarian. If disputes ever occur among you, you will not resort to weapons but will solve them in peace. If need be, I shall arbitrate between you. See God not as an autocratic despot, but as the common father of all and thus your conduct will be like the lives of brothers within the same family. I on my part, see you all as equal, whether you are white or dark-skinned. And I should like you not simply to be subjects of my commonwealth, but members of it, partners of it. To the best of my ability, I shall strive to do what I have promised. Keep as a symbol of love this oath which we have taken tonight with our libations”.

the double headed eagle at Kavala Port

The threat of storm has come to nothing. By 6 pm the harbour is bustling once again with life and activity in the tavernas, the economy helped no doubt by the very large ship in port for the night - a Hellenic Seaways liner or ferry. Many passengers offload here, with their assortment of baggage, some probably arriving home after trips to who knows where, others on the tourist trail. The roads have suddenly become very busy indeed, and where casual jay walking was the order of the day earlier on, now I have to use the lights to cross safely. I see an elderly man with a very old push chair of the simple folding type I used for my sons all those many years ago. But there is no child in this buggy. It is full of garlic bulbs, held together in ropes reminiscent of the way I have seen the French carry them on their bicycle handle bars. Here the Greek is pushing his wares from restaurant to restaurant hoping for sales before the busy evening restaurant trade.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to Kavala and continue to Thessaloniki...in the Steps of St Paul...

Travelling through Greece - In the Steps of St Paul - Philippi and Lydia

Celebrating Eucharist at Lydia

 This morning we are set for Philippi, the first city in Europe visited by St Paul and the city where he and Silas were imprisoned, as told in Acts 16 11-40. The church of Philippi, the first Christian Church in Europe, was perhaps the most supportive of all to Paul (Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4) and he always held a special affection for them.

The Lydia baptistry

We will also visit the stream by the village of Lydia, where a shrine has been built commemorating the baptism of Lydia of Thyatira (in Asia Minor, known for its purple cloth) the first recorded baptism in Europe. Here in the open air down by the river we celebrate a group Eucharist, and renew our baptismal vows, the background noisy rush of the water in stark contrast to the solemnity of the occasion and the dainty damsel fly and the seed heads floating down on the ever so slight breeze.

Inside the Baptistry at Lydia

inside the baptistry at Lydia

On the coach we learn something of the history of Baptism in the early church. The St Lydia baptistery attracted adults from communist countries to be baptized as Christians in the 1990s.

In the Greek Orthodox church the godparents give the baby to the priest who totally immerses the child. 

St Nicholas Church Kavala 

But first we briefly visited the church of St Nicholas in Kavala, with its mosaic and the supposed post where Paul may have tied up his boat on arrival in Kavala. According to tradition, a mark on one of the ancient pillars is supposed to be Apostle Paul’s footprint, left there from the time that he first visited Macedonia.

Finding the shade at Philippi!

 From Lydia's shrine we make our way to  Philippi, then capital of this region, founded 360 BC, fortified and named by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. Gold mining in the area would have enabled the accumulation of wealth and the spread of the civilization here and this potential was not lost on Philip II.

mosaic floor above Macedonian tomb
at Philippi

the theatre at Philippi

Philippi on the Egnatian road

Then in 42 BC after the murder of Julius Caesar, two armies met at Philippi. The forces of Brutus and Cassius, both involved in Caesar's murder, met those of Mark Anthony and Octavian (who became Augustus, founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD) - who won the great battle, marking the start of a new era with Philippi as a Roman colony. Paul's later visit to Philippi (Acts 16: 11-40) would have found a thoroughly Roman and important city - the first main stop on the Egnatian Way from Asia to the Adriatic. 

part of a Basilica Philippi

Philippi Basilicas beyond the forum

And so Philippi was the seed bed not only of the Roman Empire, but of the Christian church in Europe. 

The excavated ruins at Philippi expose the foundations of three great basilicas as well as a magnificent forum and fine theatre. 

Paul's prison cell

Philippi is hot! The shadows are black from the fierce overhead sun. Many scurry from one tiny patch of shade to the next, afforded only by the wider pillars. But the site is very well organised to cope with the tourist crowds, and is kept amazingly clean and litter free- oh how other sites in other countries could follow this example.

Roman toilet!

The baptised Lydia gave hospitality to Paul and Silas and enabled the missionaries to form a thriving Christian community here in Philippi. 

Here they also exorcised a slave girl, for which they were beaten and imprisoned. They escape during an earthquake - and the jailer and his family were converted and baptised to the faith. We see the prison ruins where Paul is said to have been confined.

Roman game in the pavement

Of course we cannot always know the precise locations of some biblical events and some are speculative from best information available, but it is important for us to be able to centre these events with specific places to make for more meaningful commemoration.

Next post I return to Kavala before we head for Thessaloniki...