Philippoi Kavalas

Approximately fifteen kilometers west of Kavala survive the ruins of ancient Philippi, which in the first Christian years was the most important city of the area, built exactly on the route of Egnatia Odos.

it was founded in 360 BC as a colony of Thasos with the name Krinides, but just four years later it was occupied by the Macedonian king Philip and took his name. Apostle Paul went to Philippi in 49/50 AD, in his first journey to Greece, and came again four times, while it was noteworthy that it was here that he founded the first church in European soil, with which he always maintained close relationship. Due to the intense memory of his presence, Philippi in the 4th century became the seat of a bishopric and evolved into an important religious centre.

Most of the ruins that survive today in the area belong to the Roman period but are later than the era of Apostle Paul. However, the Early Christian basilicas and the Octagon are related to the stops of his activity. The Octagon, which belongs to the complex of the bishopric mansion, it was built in the 5th century by the bishop of Philippi Porphyrios at the location where in the 4th century they had founded the first church, dedicated to Apostle Paul, whose name is referred to on the mosaic floor.

Basilica A is one of the largest and most impressive of the 5th century. The water reservoir that is kept near its propylon has been identified with the prison of Apostle Paul, already from the 5th century, while the tribune, which has been found on the northern side of the later Roman agora, is considered to be the point that he and Silas were flogged as punishment. The huge pillars that always dominated at the centre of the archaeological site belonged to the other important church, the Basilica B, which was built in the 6th century and has a lot in common with the architecture of Constantinople.