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 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.