Baptistery of St. Lydia
Βαπτιστήριο Λυδίας
A riverside baptistery commemorating Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. Its octagonal church is filled with mosaics and lies near the site of Philippi.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Paul baptized Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, by a river outside Philippi. For this reason, she is regarded as the first Christian in Europe. About 2 km west of the Philippi site, in the village of Lydia, an octagonal baptistery stands beside the small Zygaktis River. Its dome and walls are decorated with colorful mosaics depicting Paul's preaching. By the river there is an open-air baptismal pool and a shaded open space. The setting is serene, and many pilgrim groups hold baptism ceremonies here. Admission is free, and visitors should dress modestly when entering the church. It is usually visited on the same trip as the Philippi site, and reaching it by car or taxi is most convenient.
Opening hours
Open daytime
Nearby sights
- Archaeological Site of Philippi
- Kalamitsa Beach
- Batis Beach
- Archaeological Museum of Kavala
- Tobacco Museum of Kavala
- St. Nicholas Church, Kavala
- Kamares Aqueduct
- Imaret of Kavala