Paul in Athens

For centuries Athens was a significant center of philosophy and rhetoric; it’s school of thought greatly contributed to the formation of western culture and its impact is still felt in our lives today.

Why is this topic important:

For centuries Athens was a significant center of philosophy and rhetoric; it’s school of thought greatly contributed to the formation of western culture and its impact is still felt in our lives today. When Paul visited Athens during his second missionary journey, the city was one of the most important intellectual hubs in the Roman world.

What we are going to do:

In this tour we will visit the Acropolis of Athens (sites include the Parthenon, the Erechtheion temple, the Theatre of Dionysus) to learn about ancient Greek and Roman religion. We will also study Acts 17 on top of the Areopagus (Mars Hill). Lastly, we will have an on-site lesson in the Agora of Athens, the heart of the ancient city, which Paul visited during his stay in Athens.

The Goal:

The goal of this tour is to understand the philosophical, spiritual, and sociopolitical context in which Paul preached when he visited Athens.

Your Host:

Sofia Papaspyrou

Sofia was born in Athens and was raised in Corfu. She’s a member of the First Evangelical Church since 2011.
She studied History & Archaeology (BA) and Museum Studies (MA). She is a part-time student at the Greek Bible College, and a PhD Candidate at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research field is Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, in the context of Greek & Roman archaeology, contemporary tourism and pilgrimage.
She has worked as an archaeologist in surface surveys and excavations in Greece and abroad, and as a museum curator in exhibitions, educational programs, and in scientific data documentation. Since 2015, she’s a licensed tour guide. Currently, she is working in museum projects and she’s leading tours all over Greece.