Corinth in the Afternoon

After our morning touring the Acropolis and Areopagus in Athens we drove to Corinth.

On the way we stopped for lunch. We ate outside and this was our view.

Laura and I enjoy our lunch.

Above is the Corinth Canal, which connects the Gulf of Corinth with Gulf of Saronic in the Aegean Sea.

Above is what it looks like on a map. Ancient rulers attempted to construct this canal, but the project required dynamite and wasn't competed until 1893. Before this, small boats were transported over a road.

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, where he had more success despite the city being the Las Vegas of its day. He stayed for a year and a half.

Though Paul converted many people, his time in Corinth was not without difficulties. Some people weren't happy with his teachings and had Paul brought before Gallio, the Roman proconsul, accusing Paul of teaching worship of God that was against the law. Above and below is the bema or tribunal where Paul was brought before the proconsul.

The proconsul dismissed the charges, a victory for the young Christian church.

This little pillar with the beautiful carvings was in front of the bema.

Having Mass at some of the holy locations was one of the most meaningful experiences of the pilgrimage. Here, Fr. Michael and Fr. Bob say Mass in the shadow of the Bema at Corinth. As Father Bob said in his homily, Jesus's resurrection and Paul's preaching are eternal. They are happening now and always.

This banner wasn't in Corinth but at St. John the Baptist Church in Santorini, where we attended Mass. After Paul left Corinth, he wrote two letters to the Corinthians, encouraging them from afar. Above are the famous and beautiful words from these letters.