Metropolis of Filippoi, Neapolis and Thasos
The Metropolis of Filippoi, Neapolis and Thassos is located in Greek Macedonia. The Metropolis is one of the metropolises of the New Lands in Greece that are within the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople but de facto are administered for practical reasons as part of the Church of Greece under an agreement between the churches of Athens and Constantinople.
Since 1924, Neapolis, now Kavala, is the seat of the metropolitan bishop of metropolis.
History
As recorded in chapter sixteen of the Acts of the Apostles, it was in Neapolis that the Apostle Paul and his disciples Silas, Timothy, and Luke first arrived in Europe. In the year 49 in Philippi, Paul preached for the first time in Europe and established the first European Christian community. Subsequently, he visited the city again in 56 and 57.
The first church attested in Neapolis was a small building that was probably originally a small prayer house. Around 343, a basilica dedicated to Paul was built, as identified by a mosaic on the pavement. During the later centuries, the town possessed a cathedral that at the time rivaled the churches in Constantinople.
Sources
External links
- Metropolis of Filippoi, Neapolis and Thassos official website (Greek)
- Church of Greece website (Greek and English)
