VEROIA

historically Beroea commercial centre of Greek Macedonia and capital of the noms (department) of Imatha, Greece. It lies on a plateau at the western edge of the Thessalonki (Salonika) plain, at the eastern foot of the Vrmion Mountains north of the Alikmon River. The town straddles the Triptamos (river), an Alikmon tributary that provides hydroelectric power and irrigation. Vroia is the seat of a metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox church. Vroia is on the site of ancient Beroea, a city of Emathia prominent from at least the beginning of the 4th century BC. Part of the kingdom of Macedonia, it surrendered to Rome in 168. The Apostle Paul and Silas preached to the Jewish community there in AD 54 or 55. Under the emperor Diocletian (reigned 284305), the city was one of the two capitals of the Roman province of Macedonia. At an early date it was the seat of a bishop. Invaded by Serbs and Bulgars, in 1361 it was captured by the Turks, who named it Karaferiye and established a military colony. The modern town has cotton and woolen mills and trades in wheat, fruit, and vegetables. It is linked to Edessa by the Thessalonki-Kozni railway, with connections to Bitola in the Republic of Macedonia. Lignite mines operate in the area. The town has an archaeological museum and many Byzantine churches of wattle and timber. Pop. (1981) 37,087.