Introduction

Patmos is not a big island, but it is one of the best known. It was here St. John had his vision and wrote the apocalypse, and this is why Patmos is sometimes called "The Jerusalem of the Aegean". The Monastery of St. Johns towers above the capital, Chora, and the whole island breathes of faith and devotion.

Nevertheless, there is more to the island than its Christian reputation. There are many nice beaches along the jagged coastline, and the people grow fruits and olives on the green hills. The landscape invites you to take long walks and there is much to discover.

History

According to mythology, Patmos was a present from Zeus to his daughter Artemis, goddess of hunting and young women. She was worshipped here in antiquity, and the monastery of St. John was built on her temple.

The island has probably been inhabited since prehistoric times, and it went through the same changes as the rest of the Dodecannese. It paid tribute to Athens in the 5th century BC, belonged to the Macedonians in the 4th century BC, and was taken by the Romans in the 2nd century BC.

The Romans used Patmos as a place for exiles, and that's how St. John ended up here. He was ostracized from Miletus by the Roman governor for preaching the Christian faith in AD95, and stayed here for two years. The island was practically deserted during Byzantine years and was given to a monk named Christodoulos in 1088, and he started planning the monastery.

In the 11th century the work on the monastery started, and its power was to extend over the island's borders, to such a degree that the island was never occupied by neither Turks nor Venetians. The only attacks came from pirates now and again.

In 1912 the island was invaded by Italian forces, and liberated in 1948.

What to See

Whether you are interested in history and religion or not, the Monastery of St. John is a must. Its real name is Agios Ioannis o Theologos ("St. John the Theologist") and it looks like a huge fortress above Chora. In fact, it was built as a fortress in the 16th century, since the island needed some sort of defense when pirates attacked. In the monastery you can visit the church, the Treasury and the museum.

The Cave of Revelation lies between Chora and Skala and is where St. John had his vision. There is a crack in the roof where Jesus appeared to him and John dictated his vision to his disciple Prochorus.

The nunnery of Zoodochos Pigis ("Life-giving Source") lies in Chora and can sometimes be visited, but the most active nunnery is outside the village and is called Evangelismos.

If you are up for a climb, visit the monastery of Profitis Elias ("Prophet Elias") where you'll get a fantastic view since it is the highest point of the island (269m). On a clear day you'll see as far as to Turkey.

When visiting all of the above, make sure you are dressed properly: women must wear long skirts and have covered shoulders, men must wear long trousers.

In general, Chora is well worth walking around in. It is built like a labyrinth to keep the pirates away, and has many nice houses and little shops.

What to Do

The island is quite windy, so it is good for windsurfing Renting a car or a moped is also a good idea so you can explore the island on your own. There are also daytrips to the small neighbouring islands Marathi, Arki and Lipsi. At Grikos you can rent a small sailing boat.

Beaches

There are about 20 beaches to choose between. Explore the little bays and find your own paradise. There are both pebble beaches and sand beaches. Nudists go to Psili Ammos, as well as people in swimming costumes.

Nightlife

You'll find some bars and discos in Chora and Skala. The atmosphere is more relaxed than anything else, but you can enjoy some good nights out.

Food

There are several taverns in Chora and Skala, but also in the smaller villages Grikos and Kambos. Local specialties are various fish dishes, as well as sweets and pastry.

Shopping

You can get many handmade things on the island, and there are several art shops as well. The most typical souvenirs are to do with St. John, though, and icons are sold everywhere.

Getting Around

There is only one bus on the island connecting Chora with Skala and the other villages. Taxis are quite easy to find, and you can also rent cars and bikes. There is also a boat that goes to several beaches, but it is cancelled if it gets too windy.

Getting There

The most common way to get to Patmos is to get a flight to Athens and then take the boat from there. Patmos is also connected with the rest of the Dodecannese, as well as to islands like Mykonos, Samos and Tinos.