Beroea

Beroea, or Berea, is the name of several ancient settlements, most notably the city in the region of Macedonia, identified with the modern Greek city of Veria in northern Greece. In antiquity, it was a Greek city-state and a member of the Macedonian Kingdom.

Beroea is best known in Christian tradition from the New Testament account of Paul the Apostle's visit to Berea, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. According to the narrative, the Bereans were commended for examining the scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching, and the town attracted a following before later developments led to tensions with local authorities.

Modern Veria sits on the slopes of the Vermion range and has a long urban history with archaeological remains from the Archaic, Classical and Roman periods. The site is characterized by a mix of Byzantine churches, Ottoman-era architecture, and a well-preserved old town.

Other ancient sites named Beroea are mentioned in classical and later sources, though their locations are less certain. The name persisted in various languages and can refer to different settlements in antiquity, reflecting the Hellenistic and Roman practice of reusing toponyms.

Today, Veria is a major town in northern Greece, within the regional unit of Imathia, Central Macedonia. It is a center for commerce, culture, and tourism, including biblical history sites and connections to ancient Greek history.