AN HOUR'S DRIVE EAST
IS THE SANCTUARY AT EPIDAVROS
WITH THE BEST-PRESERVED THEATER
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
SURROUNDED BY THE SCANT REMAINS
OF ITS CITY.
IN 400 BC, EPIDAVROS,
WITH A SPRAWLING COMPLEX
OF HOSPITALS AND SICK WARDS,
WAS THE MOST FAMOUS
HEALING CENTER
IN THE GREEK WORLD.
IT WAS A PLACE
OF MIRACULOUS CURES
AND COMFORTABLE BENCHES
WHERE THE SICK CAME
TO BE TREATED BY DOCTOR PRIESTS
DOING THE WORK
OF ASCLEPIOS,
THE GREEK GOD OF MEDICINE.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF EPIDAVROS
IS ITS FINE THEATER,
WHICH PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT
FOR THOSE WHO MADE
THE PILGRIMAGE HERE
FROM ALL OVER GREECE.
IT CONTINUED TO OPERATE
UNTIL 426 AD,
WHEN EMPEROR THEODOSIUS II,
WHO WAS A CHRISTIAN,
CLOSED IT DOWN ALONG WITH
ALL OTHER PAGAN SANCTUARIES.
GIVEN ITS SIZE,
OVER 12,000 SEATS,
AND OBVIOUS LACK
OF MODERN AMPLIFICATION,
THE ACOUSTICS
NEEDED TO BE PERFECT,
AND THEY STILL ARE.
FRIENDS, GREEKS, WAYFARERS.
IN THESE TIMES OF DISCORD,
FEAR IS RAMPANT IN OUR SOCIETY.
I CONTEND THAT
THE FLIP SIDE OF FEAR
IS UNDERSTANDING,
AND THOSE WHO TRAVEL
WILL REAP GREAT UNDERSTANDING
BY MEETING PEOPLE
WHO FIND OTHER TRUTHS
TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
AND GOD-GIVEN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
