Cenchrea

Cenchrea (sometimes spelled Cenchreae; Greek, "millet") was the eastern harbor of Corinth, situated on the Saronic Gulf approximately seven miles from the city. It served as the port through which trade flowed between Corinth and the eastern Mediterranean — a significant emporium for the ancient world. Two biblical references place it in the life of Paul: Acts 18:18 records that Paul, near the end of his second missionary journey, had his head shaved at Cenchrea before sailing to Ephesus, apparently fulfilling a Nazirite vow (Num. 6). Romans 16:1–2 introduces Phoebe as "a deacon of the church at Cenchrea" — one of the clearest NT references to a woman holding a recognized church office — whom Paul commends to the Roman church as a patron and helper. The existence of a congregation at Cenchrea, distinct from the church in Corinth proper, reflects the rapid spread of Christianity through commercial harbor towns in the first century.