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The content on this website is maintained by
Robert Myallis, pastor at Zion's Lutheran Church, of Jonestown, PA.
The photos were taken by
Emily Myallis, a diaconal minister in the ELCA who also serves at Zion's Lutheran.
This website and travel to
Greece was made possible by a grant from the
Fund for Theological Education,
which provides grants to assist the education and formation of
Christian leaders from numerous denominations.
Bible quotes are taken from the New
Revised Standard Version, unless cites otherwise.
The above photo of Greece comes from
NASA; The icon of Saint Paul comes from George Mitrevski's website. |
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Baptistery
 This is a
baptistery from a church in Philippi built in the early 300s.
Baptisms, often done in rivers in the earliest days of
Christianity, moved into churches and fonts like these once
Christianity was accepted in the Roman Empire. In this
font, people could
step down into the cross.
In Philippi, after Paul and Silas convert their jailor, the jailor and his
family are baptized.
They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in
his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed
their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized
without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food
before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he
had become a believer in God. (Acts, chapter 16:32-34)
To continue with Paul, move to the Via
Ignatia.
How is this significant for
understanding the world of Paul?
The shape of the baptismal font, that of a cross, reflects
Pauline theology regarding baptism. Paul viewed baptism as a
means of connection ourselves not only to Christ's life, but
also to Christ's death.
As Paul writes:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have
been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so
we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united
with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with
him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was
crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed,
and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died
is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe
that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being
raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has
dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for
all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must
consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ
Jesus. (Letter to the Romans, chapter 6:3-11)
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