Patmos is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. The Chora (capital) has a character and atmosphere that we rarely see with the great monastery overlooking at the Aegean. The signs of cultural effects from its rich history can be seen everywhere. One comes across the rich religious heritage in Patmos. This is because the inhabitants of Patmos are eminent for their piety. The Byzantine period has left it's stamp over the ages.

Holy Christodoulos of Latros to whom The Byzantine emperor Alexis Comnenos the First gave the entire island by a Deed of Grant bearing the golden Seal started the construction of the monastery of Saint John The Theologian in 1088. He was called "Latrinos" because before coming to Patmos, he had founded a monastery on the Mount Latros, near Millet. But because of the Turkish advance, he asked from the emperor to be given the small deserted and arid island of Patmos. With him came and settled a few monks and laymen, originated mostly from Crete and Asia Minor. The latest, according to a clause contained in Alexis Comnenos's Grant, were obliged to come without wives and children! As soon as the construction of monastery was achieved, the necessity of cultivating the island became evident! But as the Holy man could see that it was impossible to insure permanent inhabitants without allowing the settlement of families, he decided to allow it. He however imposed on all the laymen to live far from the monastery, on the northern part of the island, where the monks were not allowed to go. The limits of the layman's settlement started from Saint Nicholas Evdilos and reached the area of Vaghia. The workers were working and living for five days in the monastery and were going to visit their families for the rest of the week. This agreement, though, appeared to be not that convenient and during the 12th century the abbot imposed to the peasants and soldiers to live inside the monastery during summer in order to protect it from the raids of the pirates, which started at that time of the year. And thus, during the 13th century, the laymen were allowed to settle in the area around the monastery, seeking protection within its enclosure and defending it in case of danger! The monastery is reattached to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and it is a patriarchal exarchate with as exarch (nuncio) the abbot who enjoys special privileges. With its huge 15 meters high impressive walls, it dominates the whole island. Above the two doors of its main entrance is the so-called "Killer", a sort of balcony from which burning oil was poured to prevent the assailants from forcing the entrance.

Sacred Grotto

The Holy Cave is at midway between Scala and Chora and is the link between matter and spirit. As you go down the 43 steps, you pass from past to future. Past because you feel the presence of St John the Evangelist who wrote there the Book of Revelation, future because the Book of Revelation is foreseeing it. The view of the rock, the mysticism that emanates from the atmosphere of the place is forcing your respect. Holy Christodoulos restored the cave when he came to Patmos. Nowadays, the pilgrims can see the place where the Book of Revelation was written, the spot where the saint was lying down, the crack in the huge rock which fissured when the voice of god was heard, dictating the book of Revelation to John, the hole in which he was putting his head to rest and the smaller hole in which he was putting his hand to steady himself. For the necessity of the worshipers, this southern part of the cave has been turned into a chapel.

Koumaro

A small wood with arbutus trees, one of the only three remaining in Greece. Before Lambi.

Vagia

Beach equipped with sun beds and parasols. For food, there is a restaurant with Greek food and a nice bar "the skipper bar" for a snack and drink, with good music.

THE HOLY CONVENT OF ZOODOCHOS PIGHI (Life giving source)

The monk Parthenios Pankosta, by a patriarchal bull of patriarch Timothy the 2nd, founded the Convent of Zoodochos Pighi, southwest of the big Monastery, in 1607.The nuns nowadays apply themselves to the art of needlework and embroideries of clerical vestments and involve themselves as well in notable works of social welfare. 15 nuns are living under the strict rule and it is celebrating on the Friday after Easter.

THE HOLY CONVENT OF EVANGELISMOS (Annunciation)

The Holy Convent of "The Annunciation of the Mother of the Beloved (Jesus Christ)" was established on the place of the Sacred Abode of Mary the Evangelist which was built in 1613 by the monk Nikiforos from Crete. It is built on the top of a deep and impressive precipice, southwest of Chora.The convent is formed by the church of Evangelistria, the chapel of St Lucas and of a three stories high defensive construction with a small chapel dedicated to St Anthony. The sisterhood was founded in 1936 by the spiritual father Amphilochios Makris who was a highly spiritual figure and worked hard to establish and develop the monastery.

Community life

The nuns nowadays devote themselves to the monastic life and to holy studies and are applying themselves to hagiography as well as gardening, agriculture and the art of embroidery. They are expert in the special point called "Spitha" (spark) which come from the time of the Byzantine Empire and is the traditional needlepoint of Patmos, and are creating real masterpieces. The sisterhood is a coenobitic community, has subsidiaries in Rhodes and Kalymnos and amounts to 50 nuns with spiritual father the reverent Father Ilia Kalatzi, who is a graduate from the Patmian School.

There are remote and quiet places where a small church and some cells have been built and where a monk or sometimes a few were leading a religious and virtuous life. In the hermitages and abodes life was ascetic and consisted in working and worshiping God. Under the authority of the Rule which is severely applied ,as in the big monastery, the tradition and the greatness of the Greek soul are kept alive

Agathonissi

Only 8 nautical miles from the Turkish coast lays Agathonisi, surrounded by many other still smaller and uninhabited islets as Kounelonisi, Katsagani, Neronisi, and others... Its name of Agathonisi (Agathos meaning good, kind) was given after a good-natured priest who was teaching in the beginning of our century, Papa-Iannis Panaiotou. It is an ideal place to feel away. There is a boat connection from Patmos or Leros. If you plan to stay on holydays, there are about 40 rooms for rent

Chiliomodi

The small island of Chiliomodi is at the entrance of the port of Patmos and it too was given to Holy Christodoulos by the emperor Alexis Comnenos. It was a hermitage and had a church dedicated to St Panteleimon. According to a preserved document, on the 10th of June of 1599, was wrecked off its coast a small boat coming from Nisyros with 7 people on board among which four were drowned. The survivals raised a banner and were seen from Patmians who came and rescued them. Nowadays, close to the ruins of the hermitage, a new church dedicated to St Panteleimon was built as well as a few cells, and on the 27th of July, a celebration is taking place in the sake of his memory.

Arki

A group of small and very beautiful islands which belong to Patmos and are 8 nautical miles from its harbour and south of Lipsi. Arki is covered with trees and bushes. On the biggest of its islands, about 40 people, fishermen for the most are living. The harbour, where boats from Patmos and Lipsos are anchoring, is well hidden by rocks which are protecting it from the winds. Visitors will have a look at its old whitewashed houses. During summer, there are many tourists in this picturesque island who come attracted by this romantic place and its amazingly blue sea. The best beach is at Marathi, a small islet in front of Arki. It is a daily connected to Patmos, Lipsos and Leros and there are daily roundtrips too from Patmos. Tourists will enjoy swimming in its crystal clear water, which are extraordinary in the south part of the island with a sandy beach and trees. You have beaches too at Linari, Tiganakia.