Thessalonica

Thessalonica is located in northern Greece and was the capital and largest city of the Roman province of Macedonia, with a population of approximately 1 million. Thessalonica was situated at the intersection of two vital Roman trade routes: the Via Egnatia, which connected Italy to Eastern Europe, and the waterway from the Danube River to the Gulf of Salonika (also known as the Thermaikos Gulf). This advantageous geographical location made Thessalonica an important seaport city.

The city of Thessalonica was founded in 315 BC by the Macedonian general Cassander and named after his wife, Thessalonica (Alexander the Great’s half-sister). Subsequently, the city developed rapidly, surpassing neighboring older cities to become Macedonia’s principal metropolis and port.

In 168 BC, the Roman government divided the province of Macedonia into four administrative districts, and Thessalonica became the capital of the Second District. In 146 BC, Thessalonica was elevated to the capital of the entire province of Macedonia and became one of the main ports of the Roman Empire. After the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, Thessalonica was granted autonomy by the Roman Emperor, becoming a “Free Imperial City.”

Due to the fact that modern Thessaloniki is built directly on top of the ancient Thessalonica site, archaeological excavations in Thessalonica have yielded very limited results. In 1962, when the relevant Greek government agency relocated a bus station within the city, archaeologists were able to excavate the area. They uncovered a Roman forum dating from the 1st or 2nd century AD, along with a public bathhouse and a mint. Nearby, an ancient Roman odeon (a small theater) dating back to the 1st century AD was also found. A significant inscription discovered near the Vardar Gate in Thessalonica, dating between 30 BC and 143 AD, mentions “in the time of the politarchs” (“In the time of Politarches”). The title “politarch” (Politarchas), used by Luke in Acts 17:6 when he stated, “they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials (Politarchas),” was thought by some scholars to have been invented by Luke, as it had not appeared in any other Greek literature. However, with the archaeological discovery of this inscription in Thessalonica explicitly mentioning the title, the reliability of the Bible has been further corroborated.

Thessalonica also houses a very famous church: the Church of St. Demetrius, built to commemorate Demetrius of Thessalonica. Demetrius was martyred on October 26, 306 AD, by the Roman Emperor Galerius (reigned 305-311 AD). Locals built this church in the 5th century AD to honor him, considering him the city’s patron saint. This church was once the largest in Greece but was destroyed in a major fire in 1917 and has since been rebuilt.

Photos and other information sources: Edited by Lu Ronghui/Zhang Bailu, 2011 Paul’s European Journey Study Handbook, pages 52-53. (Revised May 10, 2016)