Berea synagogue steps and mosaics*

Continuing the second missionary journey, Paul and Silas left Thessaloniki by night traveling south west about 45 miles to Berea, modern Veria.  Veria lies in the beautiful foothills of Mt. Vermio on a plateau that is crossed by the River Tripotamos, a tributary of the Aliacmon river.

The fertile plain of Thessaly in Central Greece is surrounded by high mountains: the Pindus Range to the west, Olympus to the north, Ossa, Pelion (Pilio) and Othris to the east, and Trimfrestos to the south. The River Pinios, flowing down from the western slopes of the Pindus, cuts Thessaly in two and passes through the Valley of Tempi to meet the sea.

Veria was taken by the Romans in 168 BC and became of the most important cities of Macedonia.[1]  Paul stayed from some time in Veria, but was forced to leave after more persecution brought by the Jews of Thessaloniki (Acts 17:13-14).  In Berea, we saw the ancient steps (bema) where Paul preached at the synagogue.

Vergina is not mentioned in the Bible but it is an important ancient city, identified with Aegae, the capital of lower Macedonia in the Pierian mountain range.  It is west of Thessaloniki,  findings from the monumental fourth-century BC ‘royal tombs’ are displayed in an excellent museum, housed underground, within one of the former burial mounds.

It was an important urban center until the 4th century BC  Here are the palaces and tombs of the Argead dynasty, which traced its origins to the mythical hero Hercules and Alexander the Great became king here after the murder of Phillip II in the theater of the city.  Ten Macedonian tombs have been discovered, one belonging to Phillip II and another probably belonging to his mother, Queen Eurydike.