Day 5 - Island of Patmos

Patmos has often been described as a barren island that the Romans used only as a penal colony. Nothing could be more true. Patmos is a beautiful Aegean islands that is now part of the country of Greece. It lies about 40 miles off the Turkish coast.

Yet, it was here that the writer of the Book of Revelations was in exile when he recorded his heavenly vision. Early tradition tells us that this was John the Apostle, who was sent here from Ephesus, possibly because of his criticism of the Roman Emperor Domitian (more on that when we visit Patmos and Ephesus). John returned to Ephesus after Domitian died and for a while Patmos was simply a stop for ships traveling from Ephesus or Miletus to Rome.

The island was the focus of new activity when Christianity was adopted by the Roman empire in the 4th century. During Byzantine times, the inhabitants of Patmos built a Grand Royal Basilica in honor of Saint John, where the monastery stands today. The island suffered from the Arab raids from the 6th to the 9th century AD, period during which the Grand Basilica of Saint John was destroyed and most residents left.


In 1088, the Father Christodoulos went to the island with monk Arsenios Skinouris who asked him his help to build the Monastery of Saint John in Patmos. The construction of the monastery started in 1101, after the permission of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komninos the 1st, who gave to Christodoulos the complete control of the island of Patmos. Thanks to Dr Carl Rasmussen (www.HolyLandPhotos.org) for this picture.

The fame of the monastery grew and a settlement started to expend around it. During the end of the 12th century, the island of Patmos was transformed into a large commercial centre.

In 1207, the Venetians conquered Patmos and the island became a semi-autonomous monastic state and gained a great wealth and influence. After WW1, the island was given to Greece and remains so today.

In Patmos, we will have a day to visit the sites and enjoy this peaceful island. In the morning, we well explore the grotto where tradition holds that John composed the Book of Revelations, tour the Monastery of the Apocalypse, and stroll the cobbled lanes of village of Chora. This area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, men must wear trousers (shorts are not allowed) and women must cover their shoulders and wear at least knee-length skirts when visiting the grotto and the monastery.

We’ll head back to the mainland on our chartered boat mid-afternoon.