Bible Geography · Macedonia (modern Greece) · c. 316 BC – Present
Thessalonica
Description
Thessalonica was founded around 316 BC by Cassander and named after his wife, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. As capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and a major port on the Via Egnatia, it was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire.
Significance
The Thessalonian church became a model congregation noted for its faith, love, and hope in the face of persecution. Paul's two letters to Thessalonica contain his most extensive teaching on the second coming of Christ, responding to questions about believers who had died.
Key Events
Paul's brief but fruitful ministry of three Sabbaths in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9); a mob attacking Jason's house to seize Paul (Acts 17:5); Paul's sending Timothy back to encourage the church (1 Thessalonians 3:2).
Modern Context
Thessalonica survives as Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. It retains significant Byzantine Christian heritage including the Church of Saint Demetrios, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient agora has been excavated beneath the modern city.