What was Thessalonica known for?
Thessalonica became a free city of the Roman Republic under Mark Antony in 41 BC. It grew to be an important trade hub located on the Via Egnatia, the road connecting Dyrrhachium with Byzantium, which facilitated trade between Thessaloniki and great centers of commerce such as Rome and Byzantium.
Who was Thessalonica in the Bible?
Jason of Thessalonica was a Jewish convert and early Christian believer mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 17:5–9 and Romans 16:21. Jason is venerated as a saint in Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
Did Paul ever make it back to Thessalonica?
1 Thessalonians 2:17–18. Paul had not been back to Thessalonica after he was driven out during his second missionary journey (see Acts 17:10). He said he had been unable to return because he was “hindered” by Satan from doing so (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
Who founded the church at Thessalonica?
Paul the Apostle
Paul the Apostle from Corinth, Achaea (now in southern Greece), about 50 ce and addressed to the Christian community he had founded in Thessalonica (now in northern Greece).
Was Thessalonica a Roman colony?
The Byzantine church of Áyios (Saint) Dimítrios, Thessaloníki (Thessalonica), Greece. Founded in 316 bce and named for a sister of Alexander the Great, Thessaloníki after 146 was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia.
Did the Apostle Paul ever return to Thessalonica?
What does the name Thessalonica mean biblically?
Victory against the Thessalians
In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Thessalonica is: Victory against the Thessalians.
Why was Thessalonica important to the spread of Christianity?
Attesting to the importance of the city in the early spread of Christianity, Aristarchus, a disciple of the apostle, became the first bishop of Thessalonica. The city’s reputation as a thriving cultural centre attracted such figures as the Roman writer and sophist Lucian in the 2nd century CE.
Where is Thessalonica in the Bible?
Thessalonica is located along the Egnatian Way, a Roman road going from Albania to Constantinople. This road was 19 feet wide and paved with stone slabs or packed sand. Paul and his companions travelled along this road from Neapolis to Thessalonica. Thessalonica is about 100 miles from Philippi and 500 miles from Athens.
Who is the patron saint of Thessalonica?
Church of St. Demetrios. St. Demetrios was a native of Thessalonica whom Galarius put to death. This basilical church was first built in the 5th century AD and remembers St. Demetrios as the city’s patron saint. The largest church in Greece, this basilica was destroyed by fire in 1917 and has since been reconstructed.
What is Thessalonica famous for?
Its prosperity and cultural reputation attracted such figures as Paul the Apostle, Roman emperor Galerius, Cicero, and Lucian over the centuries. Substantial archaeological remains have been excavated and a Roman triumphal arch still stands as one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Thessalonica is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.