After getting to our next hotel in Thessaloniki, Saturday morning we left at 9:00 to go on a tour of the city. Starting from the highest point in the walls of the original city, we learned about the importance of the circular structures that provided extra strength against attacks. From there, we followed the city walls to the Rotunda that was built in the early 4th century A.D. that was originally built as an imperial mausoleum but since then was converted into a Christian church. It was used as a mosque until 1912. At this site we heard the declamation of Acts 17:1-15, a section from 1 Thessalonians. Following the wall, we came to a point that depicts biblical scenes in the stonework. We ended our tour at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Here, we focused on Macedonian antiquities including stone mosaics, marble sculptures of the emperor, and an emphasis on bronze and gold. After the tour, we had the opportunity to explore the city to find a new place to eat lunch and dinner before getting reading to see the church services the next morning.
By: Matthew Jaeger
Oles in Greece 2020 