Myra
Summary
Myra was a principal city and seaport of Lycia in Asia Minor where Paul transferred from an Adramyttian ship to an Alexandrian grain vessel bound for Rome.
☩Location and Importance
Myra was one of the chief towns of Lycia, situated on rising ground about two to three miles from the sea, with its harbor Andriace at the mouth of a navigable river. The city lay nearly due north of Alexandria, making it an ideal stopping point for the great Alexandrian grain ships that supplied Rome. The mountains were conspicuous from afar, the harbors numerous and good, and the current along the coast set favorably westward—all excellent reasons for ships from Egypt to call at Myra before proceeding to Italy.
☩Paul's Visit
When the centurion Julius was conveying Paul to Rome as a prisoner, they sailed from Caesarea in an Adramyttian ship bound for the Asian coast. At Myra, exactly as the centurion had expected, they found an Alexandrian corn ship preparing to continue westward to Italy and transferred to it. The same northwest winds that had impeded their progress along the coast also affected the Alexandrian vessel, explaining why it had put into Myra rather than sailing directly for Italy. From Myra, Paul's ill-fated voyage continued toward Crete and eventual shipwreck at Malta.
☩Later History
Emperor Theodosius later elevated Myra to the rank of capital of Lycia. A large Byzantine church in the gorge leading into the mountains attests to Christianity's establishment there, possibly originating from Paul's visit. In later times Myra was called the 'port of the Adriatic' when that name extended to the whole Levant. The city became famous as the burial place of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra, who became the patron saint of Greek sailors. The ruins, now called Dembre by the Turks but Myra by Greeks, include an enormous well-preserved theatre and remarkable rock-hewn tombs with Lycian inscriptions.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Myra," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Myra," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Myra," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).