Lydia, Kavala, Village in Kavala Municipality, Greece
Lydia, also known historically as Hydromyli, is a village in Kavala Municipality in northern Greece, set on a hillside close to the ancient site of Philippi. The Zygaktis river runs near the settlement, and the surrounding landscape is made up of hills and farmland.
The village was formerly called Hydromyli before being renamed after Saint Lydia of Thyatira, who according to the Acts of the Apostles was baptized in this region by Paul. This connection to early Christian history shaped how the place came to be remembered and visited.
The baptistery of Saint Lydia sits beside the Zygaktis river and has an open-air pool where baptisms still take place today. Christians from many denominations travel here to take part in this ritual, making it a living place of worship rather than just a monument.
The village is best reached by car, as the roads through the hills can be narrow and winding. The baptistery site is close to the river, so wearing comfortable shoes makes it easier to walk around the area.
The outdoor baptismal pool at the site was built in 1974 with an octagonal shape, a form that echoes early Christian baptistery design found across the Mediterranean. This deliberate design choice links a modern building to a tradition going back nearly 2,000 years.
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