Athens. Corinth

Today we will board the ship for the 11-day cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. Before that, let's talk about Corinth.

We have been to Athens before in 2023 (there is a blog post about it) so we decided to do a day trip to Corinth and see some of the places the Apostle Paul had been.

First stop was Areopagus - this is a hill near the Acropolis in Athens where Paul preached.

 

Leaving Athens we travel West toward Corinth. We stopped to have a look at the Corinth canal. The canal, first considered during the time of Emperor Nero's time, was installed much later to cut the shipping time between the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea. It cuts the Peloponnesian peninsula from mainland Greece.

The canal is four miles long, 80 feet wide and the water is 28 feet deep. It was finally constructed 1881-1893.

This bridge, on the Ionian Sea end of the canal is not a draw bridge. When ships/boats come thru the canal this bridge submerges to allow the ship to pass over. Interesting design decision, the metal doesn't last long in the saltwater. Per our guide, this creates job security!

Centuries before the canal was cut in the land the solution to avoid the months-long voyage around the Peloponnesian peninsula was to unload the boats and drag them along these "rails" from one port to the other. Kind of like when you have a portage point with your canoe.

Many helpers (i.e., slaves) were needed to move the boats.

In Paul's day Corinth was a much bigger city than Athens. It's location brought many people to its shores. 

Paul travelled to Corinth a couple times. On his second missionary journey, he founded the first church in Corinth around 51-52 AD.

The ruins of the church are submerged but the outline can be seen. Many people were baptized in these waters by Paul and Silus.

The Bema

We stopped at Ancient Corinth to see what Corinth looked like when Paul was there. 

Paul was accused by Corinthian Jews of teaching contrary to the law and was brought before the proconsul Gallio at the Bema (a public judgment seat) in Corinth, as documented in the Bible. Gallio dismissed the case, stating it was a religious matter beyond his jurisdiction, which protected Paul and allowed his ministry to continue.

Surrounding area:

Paul got all over town preaching and bringing the people to Christ.

Roman Bath - 150 AD  on top of Classical Greek Baths from 350 BC

Cool mosaic in the ancient baths.

I'm considering getting this tattooed on my leg. LOL

Paul is much revered in Corinth. There is this Cathedral of Paul.

Worship lasts three hours each week and the chairs are not the most comfortable! No thanks.

This mosaic of Paul is in front of a church that has no Priest. Some super wealthy patron bought the land, built the church, commissioned the mosaic and pays for all the maintenance. Our guide said there are not even chairs inside. It's basically empty. 

The left side depicts Paul's "trial" at Bema.

Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.

Paul preaching in Ancient Corinth.

It was a very long day with a tidal wave of information. We enjoyed it and certainly learned a few things. 

Today we get on the NCL Pearl and start cruising. 

Take care,

Sheri + Carsten