One of the most eastern of the Greek
Islands, Patmos
was the exile-home of John the Beloved, and where he wrote the Book of Revelation.  From Kusadasi (the modern day harbor city
nearest ancient Ephesus) we took a boat to Patmos, traveling much the same route on which John
undoubtedly was taken.

Here we are, early in the morning, on the ferry.

My parents as the sun began to rise.

Pulling into the harbor
of Skala, Patmos.

The cave where John supposedly received and recorded his
Revelation.

The view from nearby the cave.

Our boat in the harbor (circled).

The monastery at the top of the mountain on Patmos.

One of my favorite pictures from Patmos.

This is the harbor (present day Kavala) where Paul landed on his way to Philippi (Acts 16:11). This is a Byzantine fortress
overlooking the modern-day harbor.

The view of the beach by night (from my room!).

The site of the ancient Roman Agora with Basilica B (5^th
Century) in the background. 

A baptistery in one of the ruins.

Roman latrines (public toilets) of Philippi.


A church was built on the site (purportedly) of the prison
where Paul and Silas were kept.

The river (Acts 16:13) where Paul and Silas met Lydia and the
other women on the Sabbath day.  While
the precise spot is unknown, this is obviously the river and more than likely
within a few hundred yards or less of the site where these outdoor church
services were held, and where Lydia and later the Philippian jailor were
baptized.

A small chapel sits nearby, with these stained glass windows
of Paul and Lydia.

After the beating, the night in the prison of Philippi, the earthquake caused by an angel’s footsteps,
and being released by the Philippian authorities, Paul and Silas made their way
to Thessalonica.  They went by way of
Amphipolis (Acts 17:1).  We stopped and saw
a few ruins, including this Lion of Amphipolis.

The ruins that exist in Thessaloniki today are not dated to Paul’s
day, but interesting nonetheless.

The Arch of Galerius, built to commemorate his victory over
the Persians in A.D. 303.

The Acropolis was closed due to extreme heat (somewhere
around 115 degrees Fahrenheit!) but we were still able to see a lot during our
18 hours in Athens.

The Parthenon.

The ruins of the Roman Agora where Paul first began
reasoning with the Athenians (with the Temple of Hephaestus
in the background). He was then taken to the Areapogus (Mars’ Hill – Acts 17:22),
from which this picture was taken.

Whew!  There. I'm still pinching myself to make sure that I really saw all these places so rich with sacred history.  This trip was a bit grueling at times - it was exceptionally hot in Turkey and Greece. What was it like for the apostles to travel these roads?  I have new found respect for the dedication and sacrifice of Paul and John especially.  I find myself recommitted to doing what I can, through sacrifice as well, to further the cause they so honorably advanced in hostile, forbidding environments.