Patmos

The Greek island of Patmos is the northernmost of the main islands in the Dodecanese island chain. There is no airport on the island but it can be reached via ferries from Piraeus about 160 nautical miles away, as well as from many of the other islands in the Dodecanese. This small island with its long complicated coastline is rich in natural beauty, and is a popular tourist destination, with some holidaymakers returning year after year.

Skala is the islands capital and largest settlement on Patmos. The town boasts a charming harbour and a good selection of shops, bars, cafes and taverna's. Sights worth a visit include the remains of an ancient acropolis, the church of Agia Paraskevi of Cavos, which dates from the 17th century, and the convent of Zoodochos Pigi. Located in the bay is the small island of Petrokaravo, which is easily reached via local boats.

Chora is a village originating from medieval times, that surrounds the Byzantine Monastery of Saint John. Made up of whitewashed houses built in the Aegean style, it has its own small community, that is amply serviced with a fine selection of shops, bars and taverna's. Chora is considered to be the heart of the island and has become a popular attraction. From the village, it is possible to walk down to the port by way of an old donkey path.

The Monastery of Saint John the Divine, also known as the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, is an Orthodox monastery with a fortress-like appearance, that dominates this part of the island. The monastery is a complicated mix of interconnecting courtyards, chapels, stairways, arcades, galleries and roof terraces. Contained in its walls are fragments from an ancient temple of Artemis which was destroyed during the 11th century. The main chapel is simply superb, as is an adjoining chapel which has on display a number of frescos that date from the 12th century. The Treasury houses a collection of religious icons, including an unusual mosaic icon of Agios Nikolaos, plus a parchment that granted the island to Khristodhoulos, which dates from the 11th century.

Considered by many as being the most important site on the island is the Cave of the Apocalypse, the entrance to which is part of a monastery complex of whitewashed buildings situated between Chora and Scala. It is claimed that it is here where Saint John wrote the "Apocalypse", one of the most important texts from eschatological literature. The first building in the complex, is the chapel of Saint Anna chapel, which was built, according to tradition, in 1088 by Saint Christodoulos. In the first part of the 17th century Bishop Gregory, of Caesaria founded and built the monastery. Around 1800 Makarios Kalogeras annexed the original buildings and added some new ones. Today the complex is looked after by the monks who keep them in excellent condition.

The Cave of the Apocalypse is 4 metres deep and tours are given by one of the monks from the monastery, who will point out to visitors a cross engraved in the wall which it is claimed was the work of Saint John himself. Also pointed out will be a crack in the rock where John was supposed to have heard a voice that encouraged him to write the Apocalypse. Also here is the place where Saint John slept. In fact the Apocalypse was written by John in conjunction with a number of other other ecclesiastical authors.

Agriolivadi, is a long popular beach, with shade supplied by the trees that back on to it. Watersports are available within season, and there are a couple of taverna;s to supply refreshments. Agriolivadi is within a reasonable walking distance from Scala, but can also be easily reached by taking a taxi or the local bus.

History

Patmos is believed to have been inhabited since 3000 B.C. One school of thought tends towards the Kares, Leleges and the Pelasgous as being the first to colonise the island, others believe it was the Dorians followed by the Ionians. Whichever it was, excavations indicate that the area was densely populated. The Lacedemonians came to the island during the Peloponnesian Wars, in an attempt to escape from the Athenians, and there are indications that the island flourished during this period. But the Coming of the Romans also brought a decline in the islands fortunes, with Patmos becoming a place of exile. One of these exiles was the Apostle John who was sent here in 95 A.D. under the orders of Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus. On reaching the island it is claimed that John converted the inhabitants to Christianity, and wrote the book of Revelation. This resulted in the island becoming a place of pilgrimage and worship, and with the arrival of the Byzantines, the island flourished, and with this wealth, the inhabitants built a Grand Royal Basilica in Saint John’s honour on the site where monastery stands today. From the 6th to 9th centuries A.D. the island fell foul of Arab raids, and this period saw the destruction of the Grand Basilica of Saint John. Construction of a new monastery began in 1101, when Christodoulos was given authority over the island by the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios Komninos I. As the monastery’s fame grew, a settlement built up around it. By the end of the 12th century the island had become an important commercial centre. The Venetians conquered the island in 1207, and it was placed under the control of the Duke of Naxos, during which time the island became a semi-autonomous monastic state, and with it came an expansion of the islands wealth and influence. 1340 saw the arrival of the Knights of Saint John, then in 1522 the Turks gained control of Patmos. The ending of the Turkish-Venetian Wars returned Patmos to a peaceful existence and again the island flourished, again becoming a centre of commerce. To protect the monastery from the threat of pirates, massive fortifications were constructed around it. By 1655 the island was governed by the monks, but in 1659 the Venetians, under Francesco Morozini, again conquered Patmos, destroying much that had been built up over the years, but after this, mostly due to the sheer effort of its inhabitants, the island started to prosper again. During the first part of the 18th century, the island’s wealth was separated into two separate entities, secular and monastic. In 1770 after the Turkish-Venetian War. The Russians conquered the island. 1821 saw the start of the Greek Revolution resulting in Greek independence. The treaty, signed in London did not include the Dodecanese, and so these islands, including Patmos, came again under Turkish rule. The whole of the Dodecanese was occupied by the Italians in 1912, and remained so until 1943, when the Germans took over. In 1945 at the end of World War II, the Germans left, and in 1948 Patmos with the rest of the Dodecanese became part of the Greek state.