Patmos the Island of the Apocalypse (Revelation)

«I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance [which are] in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus…»

During the reign of Emperor Domitian of the Roman Empire, John the Evangelist, the beloved disciple of Jesus Christ, was exiled from Ephesus (where he had been preaching Christianity) to Patmos Island. In those years (94-95 A.D.), Patmos was almost nearly a deserted island, a place of exile for the enemies of Rome, where in its leeward bays many Pirates dwelled.

St. John the Theologian lived through hard times on Patmos Island. According to Christian tradition St. John had to contend with idolaters, sorcerers and false miracles from crooks who he revealed with the help of God to the few inhabitants of the island. St. John lived in a cave between the Port and Chora of Patmos with his disciple Prochorus who was his assistant; we must not forget that St. John was of an advanced age.

And then the miracle happened! In this humble cave St. John spoke with God Who revealed to him the prophetic Book of Revelation. St. John recorded it with the help of Prochorus and Christianity gained another Holy Book that was included in the New Testament.

In the Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse as it is called nowadays, that humble cave, the Christian tradition maintains that where the rock is ragged at three points (notation for the Holy Trinity) from there God's voice was heard when he dictated to Saint John the text of the Revelation. The Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse was transformed into a devotional site by the founder of the Monastery of Patmos, Holy Christodoulos and today is located within the Monastery complex, while in front of the Sacred Cave there is a Holy Temple where ceremonies and mysteries take place.

Patmos Island together with Mount Sinai are of the most holy places on Earth, as there the voice of God was heard. So Patmos is a very important place of pilgrimage for all Christians, but also followers of other religions who find interest in the prophetic and eschatological text of the Revelation.

The Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos Island

The Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse is situated on Patmos Island between the Port of Patmos, Skala and Chora, approximately in the middle of the route. Apart from other means of transportation you can visit the Cave of the Apocalypse...read more

Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos Island

The Holy Monastery of Patmos was founded by Holy Christodoulos. During the reign of Arabic influence, Patmos Island was almost a deserted island. In 1088 a gifted and educated monk called Christodoulos otherwise known as ‘Latrinos’...read more

Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the younger brother of Apostle James. John was born in Galilee and was uneducated as he used only to help his father who was a fisherman from when he was a child...read more

Holy Christodoulos of Patmos Island

The founder of the Monastery of Patmos Island was born in Nice of Bithynia in Asia Minor in 1020 and his name was originally John. His parents Theodore and Anna were devout Christians and little John was brought up with the ideals of Christianity...read more

Apocalypse (Revelation) Greek Original Text in Greek Capital Letters

1 ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΤΗΝ ΟΠΟΙΑΝ ΕΔΩΚΕΝ ΕΙΣ ΑΥΤΟΝ Ο ΘΕΟΣ ΔΙΑ ΝΑ ΔΕΙΞΗ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΔΟΥΛΟΥΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΟΣΑ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΓΕΙΝΩΣΙ ΤΑΧΕΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΦΑΝΕΡΩΣΕΝ ΑΥΤΑ ΑΠΟΣΤΕΙΛΑΣ ΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΓΕΛΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΝ ΔΟΥΛΟΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ 2 ΟΣΤΙΣ ΕΜΑΡΤΥΡΗΣΕ ΤΟΝ ΛΟΓΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΑΝ ΤΟΥ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΟΣΑ ΕΙΔΕ...read more

PATMOS THE ISLAND OF APOCALYPSE (REVELATION)