Kavala, ancient Neapolis

In the Bible

After a night vision of a man of Macedonia pleading for help, Paul sailed from Troas by way of Samothrace and landed at Neapolis.

Acts 16:9–11During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.

Tradition

By tradition, Paul stepped ashore near the spot where the harbor church of St Nicholas now stands; it is often called the place where the gospel first reached Europe.

Here today

The harbor church of St Nicholas and, beside it, a modern mosaic of Paul's arrival; above them, the old town and a 16th-century aqueduct.

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).