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.

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.