Patmos villages

Grikos is a pleasant resort 4km from Skala with a curving sandy beach (canoe & wind-surf rental). Tragonissi islet rises at the far end of the curving bay. Half way along Kalikatsou rock is honeycombed with caves which were probably occupied by hermits before the monastery was founded. You can find hotels, cafes and taverns at Grikos.
Kampos is a large village overlooking a fertile valley to the west. The vast and sandy Kampos beach (sand and pebbles) is very popular in summer.
Around 2km to the north is the bay of Lampi which is famous for its colour pebbles. At Lampi you can find very nice traditional taverns with delicious food. Here are some Greek island pictures of Patmos villages

Skala Patmos

The boats land their passengers at Skala (the harbour), in a bay on the east side of the island. In the old days there was little more than a collection of vaulted warehouses (now converted into cafes and shops) around the port of Patmos as workers and merchants retreated to the safety of the upper town.
 Skala is a pleasant port with simple white houses and the principal town of the island always bustling with activity. Along the quay, the Venetian arcaded building with a corner tower houses the harbour master’s office, the customs, the police, an information office and the post office. Nearby are the taxi and bus stations and the local boats which offer excursions to the beaches on Patmos and neighbouring islets and to Leros, Kalymnos and Kos. Many cruise ships docking in Skala during the summer season.
The boats land their passengers at Skala (the harbour), in a bay on the east side of the island. In the old days there was little more than a collection of vaulted warehouses (now converted into cafes and shops) around the port of Patmos as workers and merchants retreated to the safety of the upper town.
Nowadays Skala is a pleasant port with simple white houses and the principal town of the island always bustling with activity. Along the quay, the Venetian arcaded building with a corner tower houses the harbour master’s office, the customs, the police, an information office and the post office. Nearby are the taxi and bus stations and the local boats which offer excursions to the beaches on Patmos and neighbouring islets and to Leros, Kalymnos and Kos. Most hotels in Patmos are in Skala, unlike the Leros hotels that are in many areas of the neighbouring island or the huge hotels in Kos. From Skala you can get the Greek Ferries that go to the Dodecanese islands, after Patmos they go to Leros, Kalymnos, kos and Rhodes.

Patmos Chora

Most of the traditional houses and rooms that offer accommodation in Patmos,  located in the village of Chora around the Monastery of Saint John, which dominates imposingly and spiritually the island. Built at the top of the hill for centuries know it clarificates the Greek Orthodox Belief and is one of the most important monuments in Greece. ” Old Lady”, as it is called, Chora has the privilege to be the capital of the island. The Byzantine architecture both the outside formation and the inside decoration of the houses is unique.
The own settlement of Chora, which started in the 15th century is an attraction itself. Many churches and houses were built in the beginning of the 18th century, where the Patmians, rich captains and traders decorated the houses with furniture supplied from the West or from local technicians.

Fascinating two and three floored mansions are decorated, with woodcut furniture and paintings from the most famous Greek woodcarvers and painters. Until today Chora sustains it’s old glamour. Arcs with paved alleys create unsuspected arcades with glades and give the visitor the feeling of a bygone epoch.

Picturesquely old houses with wide opened yards embraced in total with cobbled streets and many squares, with little restaurants and groceries drift the visitor to dreamlike walks.
The court yards and the wooden balconies are full of fragrant flowers blooming any time of the year. Scattered little churches on every step remind us of the holiness that governs the island. The view from Chora is magic. The azure of the sky and the sea magnetize your range of vision to the amazing view over Patmos and the islands around.

Patmos Geography

Patmos is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese islands,with a population of 2,987 inhabitants and an total surface of 34 square kilometres. The highest mountain is Profitis Ilias about 900 feet over the sea level. Patmos has many small coves, and bites therefore you will find many beaches with pebbles, sand and tamarisc trees. The island has many small islaets around. The shape of Patmos as you can see in the map of Patmos a couple of times is divided from the west to the east from a small strip of land. The island has a few villages like Grikos Livadi and Kampos most of Patmos accommodation you will find in Skala and Chora. Its capital is Chora and its main port is Skala where all the ferries and Cruise ships aproaching.

The Theological School of Patmos

his educative Institution was founded by deacon Makarios Kalogeras in the year of 1733. During Turk’s domination the School of Patmos developed a preponderant activity about revival of the Greek Nation. The great men of the contemporary history of the Greek Nation were the most students of the Patmos School. The Associates of the “Philiki Heteria” (patriotic association), the most important Emmanuel Xanthos, Demetrios Tsesmelis and the great Master of Greek educative development Adamantios Korais, the Oecumenique Patriarch and martyr of the Greek Nation Gregory V, the Patriarch Anthimos I and other eminent men, all of them have attended the School of Patmos.
Convent of Zoodochos Pigi (Source of Life)
It is for women and is located to the SE of the Monastery of St. John. It was founded in 1607 by the Patmian religious monk Parthenios Papakostas. It is a specimen of a pure insular sanctuary and the second largest cluster of buildings in the island. Inside the monastery are two churches. One is of Zoodochos Pigi and the other of St. John. Both are ornamented with icons of Byzantine style (17th century). There are also cells for the nuns and the guests that complete the group of buildings of the monastery which by its white color enhances the magic of the landscape that surrounds it. The monastery is surrounded by courts bright of flowers.

Patmos and Unesco

The Historic Centre (Chora) with the Monastery of Saint John “the Theologian” and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos
The small island of Patmos in the Dodecanese is reputed to be where St John the Theologian wrote both his Gospel and the Apocalypse. A monastery dedicated to the ‘beloved disciple’ was founded there in the late 10th century and it has been a place of pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox learning ever since. The fine monastic complex dominates the island. The old settlement of Chora, associated with it, contains many religious and secular buildings.
Property
The Historic Centre (Chora) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos The town of Chora on the Island of Patmos is one of the few settlements in Greece that have evolved uninterruptedly since the 12th century. There are few other places in the world where religious ceremonies that date back to the early Christian times are still being practised unchanged.
The Monastery of Hagios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian) and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos, together with the associated medieval settlement of Chora, constitute an exceptional example of a traditional Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre of outstanding architectural interest.
The Monastery of Hagios Ioannis Theologos and the Cave of the Apocalypse commemorate the site where St John the Theologian (Divine), the “Beloved Disciple”, composed two of the most sacred Christian works, his Gospel and the Apocalypse.
The Delegate of Thailand raised the question of eligibility of criterion (vi). He thought that the criterion   should be applied. This recommendation was also endorsed by ICOMOS and the Committee. Delegates and observers commended the high values of the site and decided to keep the criterion

The Patmos Library

The Library of the Monastery it was founded by Hosios Christodoulos, who, it is said, procured the first books. Today the Library possesses a quantity of 900 manuscripts among which the 325 are written over parchments. It exist also more than 2000 volumes of ancient editions and 13000 copies of various documents. A catalogue of these books was authored by John Sakelion, which book appeared in the year 1890. The catalogue was later completed by the Deacon Callimachus. Among the most important manuscripts we must name the following : the manuscript of Diodore Sikeliotis, the Purple Code, an incomplete copy of Evangelist Mark’s Gospel, the book of Job, manuscripts of the 7th and 8th century AD, sermons of St. Gregory the Theologue, the Gospel of Four – a manuscript dated from 1345 AD – which contains very beautiful images of the Evangelists, 29 roll manuscripts on parchments containing the test of Messes written of St.Basile the Great and St.John the Chrysostome and many other of several prelates, the Glossarion (vocabulary), which is a dictionary of the Greek language written on parchment, the did of gift of Emperor Alexios Comninos I, by which this Sovereign donated the island of Patmos to Hosios Christodoulos. Finally there exist a lot of documents of the Byzance Emperors, the Patriarchs, the Princes and other Dignitaries.

The Monastery of Patmos

The Monastery of Patmos It was erected by Hosios Christodoulos in the year of 1088 AD over the ruins of the ancient Temple of goddess Diane (Artemis).According to the Byzantine History ,the Emperor Byzantium of Alexios Comninos helped and assisted the work of Osios Christodoulos the same empiror gave him as well a big part of the island of Leros and the Castle of Leros. It is a building in the form of a mediaeval citadel with walls and battlements. This construction protected the Monastery from pirates’ attacks. The Monastery is situated at the top of the hill, where nowadays is also built the capital town of the island called Chora (or Chora), which town from its height dominates over the whole island. The church dedicated to St. Jean the Theologue is of a Byzantine art. It is decorated with fresco paints of an exceptional art belonging to various periods. It has also a wood curved temple of a marvellous carpentry art. Among the ancient icons of this church is the icon of St. John the Theologue donated by the Emperor Alexios 1st, as well as the icon of St. Nicolas worked in mosaic. The church has two chapels. The located at the right side is dedicated to Hosios Christodoulos of whom the sacred sepulchral relics are lodged into the reliquary of the church. The chapel located at the left side is dedicated to St. Virgin Mary. It is decorated with fresco paints of the 17th century. As it is said, the Sacred Altar of the church is a massive stone from the Temple of goddess Diane. Also in the front yard of the Monastery exists several antique pillars. Inside the Monastery there are also eight small chapels with icons of Byzantine art of a high value.
The treasury of the Monastery
It contains precious relics preserved for a lot of centuries. Among them we can name: sacerdotal garments of bishops woven in gold thread with pretty embroideries and surmounted with precious stones. Into the glass cases there are laying a lot of sacred objects, namely: precious crosses, sacred communion cups, mitres of Emperors and Patriarchs. Among these relics are also comprised: the mitre of Emperor of Byzantium Alexios 1st, the mitre of Neophytos VI, Oecumenique Patriarch, which is made of gold weighing 3 kilos and surmounted with precious stones, a medal Cross of Patriarch Gregory V, a martyr of the Greek Nation.

The book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation or The Apocalypse of John , is the last and only prophetical book of the New Testament in the Bible.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The book was addressed to seven churches, at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

It contains an account of the author, thought by many to be John or St John of Patmos in the text, who saw a vision describing future events at the end of the world—involving the final rebellion by Satan at Armageddon, God’s final defeat of Satan, and the restoration of peace to the world.

Revelation is considered one of the most controversial, (see Jonadabs) and hardest to understand books of the Bible, with many ranging interpretations of the meanings of the various names and events in the account. The identity of the author is not completely clear. A traditional view is that the author of this book was John the Apostle, but other scholars doubt that. The traditional Christian view is that this John was the same as the author of the Gospel of John and 1, 2 and 3 John. However, given the book’s futurist eschatology (e.g. chs. 21-22), this view is very difficult to maintain when compared to the realised eschatology of the Johannine corpus, especially the Gospel of John itself.

In the 4th century, St. John Chrysostom and other bishops argued against including this book in the New Testament canon, chiefly because of the difficulties of interpreting it and the danger for abuse. Christians in Syria also reject it because of the Montanists’ heavy reliance on it. In the 9th century it was included, with the Apocalypse of Peter among “disputed” books in the Stichometry of St. Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople. In the end, it was included in the accepted canon, although it remains the only book of the New Testament that is not read within the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Traditionally the date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at the year 96 A.D., in the reign of Domitian. Others contend for an earlier date, 68 or 69 A.D., in the reign of Nero. Those who are in favour of the later date appeal to the testimony of the Christian father Irenaeus (died 185 A.D.), who received information relative to this book from those who had seen John face to face. He says that the Apocalypse “was seen a long time ago.” Other evidence for the later date is internal: the book alludes to significant persecution, affecting the Christians of Asia Minor. This is a better historical fit for Domitian’s reign than Nero’s, Nero’s persecution was mostly confined to the territories around Rome, while Domitian’s persecution was indeed vigorously carried out in Asia Minor.

Patmos through the Ages

In the year 96 AD, the Evangelist Saint John the Theologue was banished in Patmos by the emperor Domitian for preaching the Gospel at Ephesus. This is the reason that the island of Patmos became the center of the Orthodox Religion and moreover is got famous. In the island the Apostole Stt John wrote the Apocalypse and he says in his prologue : “I dwelled in an island of which name is Patmos, as to preach the word of God and have faith in the martyrdom suffered by Jesus Christ”. Saint Jean, during his exile in Patmos lodged into a grotto of which today’s name is “Apokalypsis”. At the Emperor’s death in 97 AD John returned to Ephesus where he lived to a ripe old age. A text entitled “Voyages and Miracles of St. John the Theologist” written by his disciple Prochoros was embraced by the Byzantine tradition and by the Christians in Patmos.
n the year 1088 AD disembarked in Patmos Saint Christodoulos (or Osios Christodoulos), native of Nicaea Bithynie coming from the islands Kos and Leros, where he had founded several nunneries. The Saint applied to the Emperor of Byzantium Alexios Comninos 1st, who signed a did of gift by which he yielded to him the island of Patmos as to lead there His life of hermit. The Saint founded in Patmos a great Monastery dedicated to St. Jean the Theologue.
The island was conquered by the Turks (1537 AD) being rendered without to offer resistance. This is why the island enjoyed several privileges granted to it by the conquerors. In 15th century refugees from Constantinople settled in Patmos and in the 17th century Cretans from Heraklio sought the monastery’s protection. The Monastery of Patmos during the dark period of Turks’ domination had developed the highest educative activity and safeguarded the relics of Greeks. Particularly, the foundation at Patmos, in the year 1713, of the school “Patmia Scholi” had transformed the island in an important educative center. The patriots Xanthos and Themelis, foundators of the “Philiki Heteria” (Friendship Association), which aimed the deliverance of the Greek Nation from Turks’ slavery, both of them were originally and glorious sons of Patmos island.
The Greek shipping industry grew as Patmos traded with Europe and Asia Minor; local crafts were exported. In 1659 Venetians under Francesco Morosini sacked the island with the exception of the monastery.
Although Patmos was active in the cause of Greek independence it remained under Ottoman rule under the terms of the Treaty of Constantinople (1832) and as it was cut off from the new western style Greek state, its prosperity declined.
In the year 1912 Patmos was occupied by Italians, together with the other islands of Dodecanese. The island acquired its liberty by the end of World War II. Later, at March 7th 1948 its union with Greece was a fact.