Day 5- Another grueling day in the footsteps of St. Paul. Scriptures tell us that St. Paul visited Troas, and preached so long that young Eutychus fell asleep and fell three storeys!!! His dead body was later resurrected by Paul.... Hmmmm, I wonder how many of us are putting our youth to sleep in the church? [I'm just saying....]
Well, driving through Troas, we arrived at Troy, and i stood on Mount Mount Olympus- home of the gods! (Actually, it is now a simple hill located at an archeological dig). I "rode" the Trojan horse! (actually, stood in the horse just as the Roman soldiers are purported to have done in deceiving the people of Troy and invading their city). From there, we visited Pergamum (the third of the seven churches in the book of Revelation (ch. 2). This was the place of persecution for early Christians, and the location of the altar of Zeus. This is supposed to be the abode of Satan himself! We then traveled to Izmir (Smyrna) the second of the seven churches of Revelation. Visited the Church of St. Polycarp (RC), bishop of Smyrna, and martyr. Then to the site of an archeological dig of an ancient Agora (a place of gathering). It was to Smyrna that Christ claimed to be the Alpha and the Omega, came to life again, urging the faithful who were enduring persecution to remain faithful to the very end, and they will be rewarded with the crown of life. (Rev. 2:11) I wonder how those Christians who were being burned at the stake felt when they heard those words of assurance, and how we might here them today in times of strife and deep division in the very body of Christ, the Church?
Anyway, we retired to our hotel for what I hope will be a good night's rest!
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Well, driving through Troas, we arrived at Troy, and i stood on Mount Mount Olympus- home of the gods! (Actually, it is now a simple hill located at an archeological dig). I "rode" the Trojan horse! (actually, stood in the horse just as the Roman soldiers are purported to have done in deceiving the people of Troy and invading their city). From there, we visited Pergamum (the third of the seven churches in the book of Revelation (ch. 2). This was the place of persecution for early Christians, and the location of the altar of Zeus. This is supposed to be the abode of Satan himself! We then traveled to Izmir (Smyrna) the second of the seven churches of Revelation. Visited the Church of St. Polycarp (RC), bishop of Smyrna, and martyr. Then to the site of an archeological dig of an ancient Agora (a place of gathering). It was to Smyrna that Christ claimed to be the Alpha and the Omega, came to life again, urging the faithful who were enduring persecution to remain faithful to the very end, and they will be rewarded with the crown of life. (Rev. 2:11) I wonder how those Christians who were being burned at the stake felt when they heard those words of assurance, and how we might here them today in times of strife and deep division in the very body of Christ, the Church?
Anyway, we retired to our hotel for what I hope will be a good night's rest!
For someone who's new to blogging in the first place, I think you're doing quite well!!
ReplyDeleteI started "following" you on a map of Paul's missionary journeys, and look forward to continuing. Reliving those stories in those places must be absolutely amazing, and I look forward to more of your reflections on a time and a mission I find so relevant and grounding amidst the confusion and distraction that daily threatens to engulf me.
Thanks for taking the time to take us with you! I, for one, am grateful for the chance to follow.
Peace be with you,
Phyllis