2025 Greek Pilgrimage - Day Three

Delphi – Where the Ancient World Listened for the Gods

Lots of driving today as we headed toward Delphi and Athens…incredible scenery, including the largest olive tree grove in Greece…rumor has it there are over 10 million olive trees! And another Greek fun fact…olive trees can live for hundreds and even thousands of years. There are some olive trees here from the time Jesus walked the earth. 

Today our pilgrimage took us to Delphi, one of the most important religious centers of the ancient Greek world. In antiquity, this was considered the very “navel” of the earth, marked by the Omphalos, a conical stone symbolizing the center of the world. Pilgrims would walk the Sacra Via, passing by the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, and finally arriving at the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle once spoke her mysterious prophecies.

Among the ruins, we learn how deeply pagan influence permeated life in Delphi. The temples, treasuries, statues, and rituals reminded us of the spiritual environment the apostle Paul experienced when he preached the Gospel in Greece. Imagining Paul proclaiming Christ in this idolatrous environment gives us a new understanding of his courage and conviction while bringing the Good News to Greece.

Next, we visited the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, home to breathtaking treasures. Among them is the famed bronzed Charioteer, crafted in the 5th century B.C., as well as many other pieces from antiquity.

Finally, we did as the Greeks do and had lunch at 2:00 p.m. at a lovely little tavern called Omfalos. Well worth the wait and my goodness…the baklava, Opa!

From Delphi, we continued on to Athens, where we shared dinner and prepared for the next stage of our journey.

Until tomorrow,

Donna Matthews

P.S. The luggage is hopelessly lost. We're now taking bets on how long it'll take to return home.