Philippi

Location

Philippi lay in eastern Macedonia (northern Greece), on the Via Egnatia — the great Roman road connecting the Adriatic to Byzantium. It was named after Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander) who took it in 356 BC, and refounded as a Roman colony by Octavian (Augustus) after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. In the first century AD it was a small Roman colony rather than a great city like Ephesus or Corinth.

Biblical importance

Philippi is the first city on European soil where Paul preached (Acts 16:11-40), the site of the baptism of Lydia — the first named European convert — and of the conversion of the Philippian jailer. It is the destination of the Epistle to the Philippians, one of the four so-called 'prison epistles.'

Historical timeline

• 356 BC — Philip II of Macedon takes and refounds the city.
• 42 BC — The Battle of Philippi: Antony and Octavian defeat Brutus and Cassius. Octavian refounds Philippi as a Roman colony.
• c. AD 49-50 — Paul's Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9-10) draws him from Troas to Neapolis and thence to Philippi.
• c. AD 50 — The conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), the deliverance of the slave girl (16:16-18), the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, the midnight singing, and the conversion of the jailer (16:19-40).
• c. AD 61-63 — Paul writes the Epistle to the Philippians from imprisonment (traditionally Rome; some argue Ephesus or Caesarea).
• c. AD 107 — Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom, writes to the Philippians (only Polycarp's later letter to the Philippians preserves details).
• c. AD 110-120 — Polycarp of Smyrna writes his Letter to the Philippians.
• AD 4th-5th c. — A large basilica complex is built at Philippi; two major basilicas ('Basilica A' and 'Basilica B') survive in ruins.
• AD 6th c. — A cathedral (the Octagon) is built over an earlier martyr shrine.

Important biblical events

• Acts 16:9-10 (KJV) The vision of the man of Macedonia: 'Come over into Macedonia, and help us.'
• Acts 16:11-12 (KJV) Paul sails from Troas to Samothracia, Neapolis, and thence to Philippi, 'which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony.'
• Acts 16:13 (KJV) 'And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made.'
• Acts 16:14-15 (KJV) Lydia, a seller of purple from Thyatira, hears; her heart is opened; she is baptised with her household; she constrains Paul's company to lodge with her.
• Acts 16:16-18 (KJV) The slave girl with a spirit of divination; Paul commands the spirit to come out.
• Acts 16:19-24 (KJV) Paul and Silas are beaten with rods, thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks.
• Acts 16:25 (KJV) 'And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.'
• Acts 16:26-34 (KJV) The earthquake, the jailer's conversion, and the baptism of his household.
• Acts 16:35-40 (KJV) The magistrates ask them to depart privately; Paul insists on being led out openly, having been beaten publicly, being Romans and uncondemned.
• Philippians 1:3-4 (KJV) 'I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.'
• Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV) The Christ hymn: 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...'
• Philippians 4:8 (KJV) 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure...think on these things.'
• Philippians 4:13 (KJV) 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.'
• Philippians 4:15-16 (KJV) The Philippians as the only church that supported Paul financially at the beginning.

Important Christian events

• Lydia is traditionally counted as the first named European convert to Christianity. A modern chapel and baptistry beside the Krenides stream at Philippi commemorate this.
• Polycarp of Smyrna's Letter to the Philippians (c. AD 110-120) preserves fragments of Ignatius's earlier correspondence and confirms a healthy Philippian church a generation after Paul.
• The Octagon at Philippi (fifth-sixth century) is a large ancient cathedral built over an earlier martyr shrine (possibly Paul himself), preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site.
• Two large fourth-fifth-century basilicas (Basilica A and Basilica B) also survive in ruins at Philippi.

Related Scripture

• Acts 16:14 (KJV) 'whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.'
• Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.'
• Philippians 2:14-15 (KJV) 'Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.'
• Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) 'Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.'

Related biblical people

• Lydia, seller of purple from Thyatira.
• The Philippian jailer.
• The slave girl with a spirit of divination.
• Silas, Paul's companion.
• Timothy, sent later to the Philippians (Philippians 2:19).
• Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30).
• Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3).
• Polycarp of Smyrna, who wrote to the Philippians a generation later.

Related Journeys

• Journey — the travels of Paul (future)

Historical churches

• Basilica A at Philippi (early fifth century, now ruins) — one of the earliest large Christian basilicas of Macedonia.
• Basilica B at Philippi (sixth century, now ruins) — never completed; its walls stand roofless.
• The Octagon at Philippi (fifth-sixth century, now ruins).
• The modern Chapel of St Lydia beside the traditional site of her baptism at the Krenides stream.

Historic monasteries

• Meteora and Mount Athos are the great living monastic centres of northern and central Greece — a future Atlas page will treat them individually.

Museums and archaeological collections

• The Archaeological Museum of Philippi — small museum on the site.
• The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki holds broader Macedonian material.

Pilgrimage today

The excavated site of Philippi is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The chapel of St Lydia by the river receives many visitors, especially for open-air baptisms. CrossAIHub does not recommend a tour operator.

Related liturgical seasons

• Feast of St Lydia — 3 August (Eastern) / 3 August (Western in the Roman Martyrology).
• Sundays after Trinity — the historic lectionary often reads from Philippians.

Images (public-domain, to be added)

Historic maps (public-domain, to be added)

Further reading

• Acts 16 (KJV).
• The Epistle to the Philippians (KJV).
• Polycarp, Letter to the Philippians (Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. 1).