Patmos – Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

The small Greek island of Patmos is one of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese group, off the west coast of Turkey.

Patmos was named a Sacred Island by the Greek government in 1981 and has long been a popular pilgrimage site. According to Roman legend, the island was named after Poseidon stepping on it (patima, Greek for “step”). It is known for its religious significance and serene beauty. We visited two sights on the island:

Holy Cave of the Apocalypse

The island served as exile for an important historical figure: St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Around 95 CE, Saint John was exiled to Patmos and sought refuge in a cave along with his faithful disciple and scribe, Prochorus. Banishment during this time was a common punishment for crimes such as practicing astrology or prophecy because the Romans viewed it as a threat to their power.

Tradition holds that this cave is where Saint John the Apostle, while staying in the cave, received the visions he recorded in the biblical Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse.

The Cave of the Apocalypse is located inside this small chapel. The Greek Orthodox chapel of St. Anne, constructed in the early 17th century, completely encloses the cave where John is said to have seen visions that he interpreted as the final judgment.

It is believed that one day, the rocks of the cave cracked and three fissures were created, which are symbolic of the Holy Trinity. It was through these fissures that God spoke to Saint John, instructing him to write down his visions of the final days of the world and the creation of a new Earth.

A mass was being held during our visit, so only a few group members could enter the small cave at a time—and we could not take pictures! So, the photo below is thanks to Google!

There is a cleft in the rock where Saint John is said to have rested his head during his visions. This spot is marked by a stone slab known as the “Pillow of Saint John.” The walls are covered with rare icons, many of which date from the 1600s, and there is an ornately carved wooden altarpiece.

Seen as we entered the cave.

The combination of the natural cave and the chapel structure around it creates a serene and contemplative environment, even with the number of visitors present today. This is a place of pilgrimage and spiritual retreat, drawing visitors from around the world to pay homage to Saint John and the prophetic writings he received here.

This chapel is part of a larger religious complex, which includes the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, which is located nearby on the same hillside. That was our next stop!

Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian

The Monestary of St. John is dedicated to the ‘beloved disciple’ and was founded in the late 10th century. It has been a place of pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox learning ever since.

It was built by the monk Christodoulos on the ruins of the Temple of Diana. Fortified over the next two centuries to protect it against marauding pirates, this imposing monastery is visible virtually everywhere on the island and has remained in continuous operation for more than 900 years.

There are lots of priceless religious relics to view in here….

The library—said to be the most important in Greece outside the Greek Orthodox center of Mount Athos—holds 1,200 manuscripts in parchment, vellum, or scrolls, including leaves of Mark’s gospel dating from the 6th century.

In 1999, UNESCO declared both the cave and monastery a joint World Heritage Site, one of the most sacred sites in Christianity.

Around town…..

Chora is the capital of Patmos and is built around the Monastery. We had time to wander around whitewashed houses, narrow streets, and alleyways from the 15th century. Soooo lovely….

Dazzling white houses that tumble down the hillside surrounding the citadel.

These three windmills on Patmos date back to the 16th century, a period when windmills were common across the Greek islands and mainland. They were primarily used to grind grain, which was a vital part of the island’s economy, especially for local agriculture.

The windmills are made of stone, with a cylindrical structure topped by conical roofs. Each windmill has traditional wooden sails that capture the wind, driving the millstones inside to grind the grain.

Over the years, these windmills fell into disrepair. However, in 2010, a restoration again transformed the windmills into working structures, preserving their historical and architectural value. One is fully functional and produces wholemeal flour.

Patmos has no airport and it’s not easy to reach, but it attracts VIPs from all over the world due to its tranquility – David Bowie and Giorgio Armani have been regulars over the years. Nicholas Negroponte from MIT’s Media Lab installed an island-wide Wi-Fi system for everyone to surf the internet for free.

Luckily for us, in our little OAT tugboat, we made it here just fine!! What a delightful and memorable visit!

2024, with Overseas Adventure Travel