On September 28, 1920, the Simplon-Orient Express pulled into the station at Athens with the Watch Tower Society’s second president, J. F. Rutherford, aboard. The newspaper Athina announced his talk on the theme “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” He also spoke on the Areopagus, or Mars’ Hill, where Paul had given such an effective witness about 50 C.E. (Acts 17:22-34) Later, Brother Rutherford aptly wrote: “Greece is a priest-ridden country, but we believe the people are awakening to the fact that they have been duped and misled by their blind guides. We believe there is a wide field for a witness to the truth there.”

When the talk “All Nations Marching to Armageddon, but Millions Now Living Will Never Die” was to be given, the small Athens Congregation went into action. The Town Council permitted the use of the Athens Municipal Theater free of charge. The newspaper Athina advertised the talk in banner headlines. Brother Karanassios delivered the talk to a packed audience, and it was repeated in the Odeon Hall on Phidiou Street. Many obtained the booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die.

George Douras, a well-known poet and student of law, learned the truth in 1920 through reading a tract. He served as a pilgrim, or traveling minister, from 1922 to 1925. In November 1923 he gave a public talk in a cinema at the west coast port of Patras. Present was Pavlos Grigoriadis, a well-educated man who later became a Bible Student. His brother Grigoris also learned the truth and is still associated with the Bethel family in Greece.

In that same year, Brother Douras gave a public talk in the town of Kalamata. Dimitris Logiotatos recalled: “The whole community were as startled as I when they saw the advertisements for the talk ‘Millions Now Living Will Never Die.’ I decided to go and hear it. When I arrived, the hall was full. I sat behind Mr. Trempela, a theologian and professor at Athens University, who was known as the ‘nightingale of the Orthodox church.’ I caught every detail of the spiritual fight between the Bible Students and that prominent theologian. It was a triumph for TRUTH! Afterward I obtained a number of booklets with the same title as the talk. I read a copy in just one night. Full of joy, I ran to distribute these wonderful booklets to my friends and relatives.”

“Step Over Into Macedonia and Help Us”

Christians the world over are familiar with the urgent call that the apostle Paul received through God’s spirit to preach in the territory of Macedonia: “Step over into Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:9) Whereas Paul’s travels took him to Macedonia first, in this century the good news spread to Macedonia slightly later than to the southern and central parts of Greece.

A public talk gave the preaching work its start in the very town where Paul first arrived in Europe​—Kaválla, ancient Neapolis. Nicolas Kouzounis recalled being there back in 1922: “I had been feeling troubled spiritually. About that time the newspaper Simaia advertised a public talk entitled ‘Millions Now Living Will Never Die,’ to be given in a coffee shop. After the talk, I obtained the booklet Can the Living Talk With the Dead?” Deeply moved by what he had learned, Brother Kouzounis soon joined a companion in spending months at a time traveling by car to preach in the villages and towns as far as the Turkish border.