St John in Patmost

St John in Patmost

Greece
Aegean Sea
Dodecanese
island of Patmos
St John monastery

Patmos is a tiny island in the middle of Aegean Sea and, since my younger days, remains my most favourite island to visit not only in summer but throughout the year. It is best known as the location in which the disciple John received the visions and the divine enlightenment to write the Book of Apocalypse(Revelation) The island is loaded with history but, apart from the imposing monastery/castle of St John the Evangelist built in the 11th century AC by the Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus, also incorporates a wonderful Chora(capital), a unique architectural element of combined classical, Byzantine and Venetian art together with many fine beaches and shores for enjoying a summer break. Many foreigners, especially artists, have selected this island for building residencies and and enjoy an all round year stay in the island.
Patmos remains a destination for Christian pilgrimage where one can also see the cave where John wrote the Book of Apocalypse.
Unesco in 1999 placed the Chora(town) of Patmos, the Monastery of St. John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse in the World Heritage Monuments, noting once again the importance and unspoiled beauty and charm of this island over the centuries. Alongside, Patmos belongs to the network COESIMA, as one of the seven most important sites of pilgrimage in Europe.


In the photo, the imposing on top of the Chora castle monastery of St John emerging through the dispersing clouds at the end of a storm...