We've crossed the ocean to Ancient Philippi for today's Architectural August post. This church is actually a lot younger than the ruins we saw of the ancient Macedonian city when I visited Greece in 2003. It is built alongside the stream which follows the outskirts of the city. The book of Acts records that a small gathering of women was here when the Apostle Paul came to town. This tells us that the Jewish population there was too small to have a quorum for a synagogue (10 men were required for that). So these faithful ladies had come to the stream to pray and were happy to hear Paul's message. One of the ladies was named Lydia and she was so impressed and moved by what Paul had to say she invited Paul and those traveling with him to stay in her home. It is noted that she was a "seller of purple cloth", a high-end luxury item of the times. This chapel commemorates Lydia's encounter with Paul. Although it may not be on the exact spot where they met, it is certainly the same area. The inside of the church is lovely and the acoustics are marvelous. We sang some hymns while there and sounded like an angelic choir!
Thank you Allison, Phoebe, Nina, Francoise, Joyce, Nicole, Suse, Pyrrhula, Julia, and Maggie! I did not make it very clear in my write-up that the church is more "modern". I'm not exactly sure when it was built, but I'd say it was within the 20th c. I don't think it's older than that, but I could be wrong. Sometimes the newer things are build over the older things and a different chapel could have been here and then destroyed with a new one being build upon the old foundation. At any rate, it does a nice job in reminding one of the history here.
@summerfield Thank you Vikki! It's funny (odd) that many times I see it and take it but don't really see how I've seen it! It just doesn't register that it's that artistic or different or whatever and then I'm really surprised by what people have to say about the shot. I guess that's because it just comes naturally? Who knows!
@homeschoolmom Thank you Lisa! You can probably get some really good rates now!
Thank you Allison, Phoebe, Nina, Francoise, Joyce, Nicole, Suse, Pyrrhula, Julia, and Maggie! I did not make it very clear in my write-up that the church is more "modern". I'm not exactly sure when it was built, but I'd say it was within the 20th c. I don't think it's older than that, but I could be wrong. Sometimes the newer things are build over the older things and a different chapel could have been here and then destroyed with a new one being build upon the old foundation. At any rate, it does a nice job in reminding one of the history here.
@homeschoolmom Thank you Lisa! You can probably get some really good rates now!