After attending the Orthodox Easter Friday service in the city square of Thessaloniki the night before, we had a good night sleep at our hotel and got up feeling rested and relaxed.
Breakfast was served buffet style at the hotel’s lobby. We had a good breakfast with a few choices of breakfast sandwiches as well as some hot food items and an assortment of pastries and fruits. The varieties and choices of pastries being sold in the bakeries everywhere in Greece were amazing!
It was a rainy morning here in the city. Instead of walking around exploring Thessaloniki after breakfast as we had planned, we opted to stay in the hotel lobby, a comfortable place, sipping our breakfast coffee and reading the Book of Thessalonian, one of the letters from the New Testament which the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. I have read Paul’s letters before but without much understanding of what he said in this book. However, this time being in Thessaloniki and re reading his letter, I understood it so much more! I felt as if Paul was speaking to me personally through his letter. It was incredible!
The part in chapter 1, the first 2 verses where Paul encouraged the congregation in Thessalonica to keep doing good. That is the exact feeling I have had numerous times after volunteering my services hours after hours but feeling unappreciated.
Paul’s words touched me and encouraged me. I felt the power of his words right in the city where he was and where the recipients of his letters resided more than two thousand years ago! Unbelievable power!
Since the book of 1 Thessalonians consisted of only 5 chapters, we were able to read the whole book in one go in the hotel's dining area. Then when we came to chapter 4 verse 6 : " and that in this matter no one should should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you."
All of a sudden, remembering what we have learned from the Catacombs tour in an Athens church about what people did to each other in the Roman Baths, my eyes seemed to have been opened and I totally understood what Paul was talking about in this passage! Amazing experience! For the longest time, I had no idea what the bible was saying when I read it, but I was enlightened right here in Thessaloniki and finally understood the scriptures!
I guess this is why pilgrims make pilgrimages to the holy sites to be close to where the religious events took place and to strengthen their faith and be inspired during their pilgrimages.
RT, Day 2, Thessaloniki, Greece
042026
