Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos

The Octagonal Basilica, Philippi

Ruins of a large three-aisled early Christian basilica (Basilica A), end of 5th century AD, Philippi

The Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos (Greek: Ιερά Μητρόπολις Φιλίππων, Νεαπόλεως και Θάσου) a Greek Orthodox metropolitan see in eastern Macedonia, Greece. It was founded in the ancient city of Philippi, where it was based until the destruction of the host city in the 14th or 15th century. Today it is based in the city of Kavala. Although subject to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, it is administered by the Church of Greece.

History

Philippi was an early site of Christianity, with a bishopric established at an unknown later time. The church was mentioned several times in the New Testament and in the Byzantine Notitiae Episcopatuum.^[1] Several basilicas were built here under the Byzantines.^[2]

Bishops

The identity of the first bishop of Philippi is a matter of controversy. The church in Philippi was established through the work of Saint Paul, who later in the Epistle to the Philippians refers to unnamed bishops (episkopoi) and deacons of the church there.^[3] The fact that his reference is to bishops (in the plural) and that they are unnamed has led to some conjecture over their identity. One possibility is Erastus,^[4] the city treasurer,^[5] though Epaphroditus (Paul's emissary) is another possibility.^[6] It may also be that the church of Philippi was led by women like Lydia or Euodia and Syntyche. The issue is further complicated by the fact that Polycarp's letter to the Philippians of about 160 is not addressed to a bishop but to the congregation.

Known Bishops include:

• Porphyrios, who was present at the Council of Serdica (343)^[7]
• Saint Theonestus of Philippi (425)
• Sozon of Philippi (451)^{[8][9][10][11][12]}
• Demetrius fl. 531.^[13]
• Bishop Ambrose of Philippi
• Epaphroditus
• Flavanius (Council of Ephesus)^[14]
• Bishop Chrysostomos of Philippi

References

1. Joseph Bingham, Origines Ecclesiasticae; Or the Antiquities of the Christian Church and Other Works: In Nine Volumes, p 190, Volume 3 (Straker, 1843) RFodRG5aeIluuxRfFB6f8xU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigtcOvk_bMAhUlIaYKHSU8DHgQ6AEIOTAG#v=onepage&q=Philippi&f=false (online version)
2. Eduard Verhoef, Philippi: How Christianity Began in Europe: The Epistle to the Philippians, p 82 (online version)
3. Philippians 1:1
4. Acts 19:22
5. Saint Erastus
6. Phil 2:25
7. Porphyrios
8. Richard Price, Michael Gaddis, The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, p 341, Volume 1 (Liverpool University Press, 2005) PA157&dq=Richard+Price,+Michael+Gaddis,+The+Acts+of+the+Council+of+Chalcedon,+Volume+1&source=bl&ots=xsdx6sJqOR&sig=0y3dFazEyPhUhsMf-71F7IACMDc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLr8OLofnMAhUJFpQKHXQnC0gQ6AEINTAF#v=snippet&q=Philippi&f=false (online version)
9. Eduard Verhoef, Philippi: How Christianity Began in Europe: The Epistle to the Philippians, (online version)p 75
10. Sozon of Philippi
11. Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church: from the Original Documents, to the close of the Second Council of Nicaea A.D. 787 (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007) p331.
12. Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2007) p35.
13. Eduard Verhoef, Philippi: How Christianity Began in Europe: The Epistle to the Philippians, p 86 (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013) (online version)
14. Letters 1–50 (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 76) p8.

External links

• Official website (Greek)