Known as the Jerusalem of the Aegean, Patmos is famous as the island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. This most northerly island in the Dodecanese archipelago is an attractive mix of small hills and beaches tucked away within the folds of an unusually long and intricate coastline. Skala is Patmos island’s port and main town. Stretching round a wide, sheltered bay, exclusive gift shops and boutiques lend the place a smart, up-market feel. Plenty of waterfront tavernas and cafes do a roaring trade, especially when the cruise ships dock.

This same waterfront is the beach caiques departure point and every morning between 10.00 and 10.30 the exodus begins to various bays, islands and islets. The fine sands and sweeping dunes of Psili Amos, the multi-coloured pebbles of Lampi and sleepy Marathi islet are all possible destinations. Larger vessels journey across to Lipsi, an island of green hills dotted with blue and white chapels. An old, cobbled pathway leads up from Skala to Chora, site of the famous monastery. Along the way, it is possible to visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse where it is believed St. John dictated the holy book to his disciple Prochoros after his arrival on the island in AD 95.
Once at the top of the pathway, panoramic views down to Skala and across to Samos & Ikaria are reward for ones efforts. Patmos monastery itself was founded in 1088 and is one of the most important places of worship among both Orthodox and Western Christian faithful. Its religious treasures include a 12th century icon of St. John located in the monastery’s main church. Chora itself is a maze of dazzling white, narrow lanes and home to over 40 chapels and sea captains’ mansions. Twin centre and Island Hopping: Patmos can be combined with Athens, Samos, Symi and Rhodes Excursions & Activities: Guided tours of the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse and the monastery. Caiques to beaches and day trips to Lipsi.

Golden Sun
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Patmos Attractions
What Patmos lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Apart from its natural beauty and its 300-plus churches, to which we can't possibly provide a detailed guide here, there are several extraordinary sights: the Monastery of St. John, Cave of the Apocalypse, and medieval town of Chora. The latter is a labyrinthine maze of whitewashed stone homes, shops, and churches in which getting lost is the whole poin. Off season, the opening days and times for the cave and the monastery are unpredictable, as they are designed to accommodate groups of pilgrims and cruise-ship tours rather than individual visitors. Neither place is public.

The cave is enclosed within a convent, and the monastery is just that. It's best to consult the tourist office or one of the travel agents listed above for the open hours on the day of your visit (the times given below are for the peak season May-Aug). To visit both places, appropriate attire is required, which means that women must wear full skirts or dresses and have covered shoulders, while men must wear long pants.
The road to Chora is well marked from Skala, but if you're walking, take the narrow lane to the left just past the central square. Once outside the town, you can mostly avoid the main road by following the uneven stone-paved donkey path, which is the traditional pilgrims' route to the sanctuaries above.

Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos island
Exiled to Patmos by the Roman emperor Domitian in A.D. 95, St. John the Divine is said to have made his home in this cave, though Patmians insist quite reasonably that he walked every inch of the small island, talking with its people. The cave is said to be the epicenter of his earth-shaking revelation, which he dictated to his disciple and which has come down to present believers as the Book of the Apocalypse, or Revelation, the last book of the Christian Bible. The cave is now encased within a sanctuary, which is in turn encircled by a convent. A stirring brochure written by Archimandrite Koutsanellos, Superior of the Cave, provides an excellent description of the religious significance of each niche in the rocks, as well as the many icons in the cave. Other guides are available in local tourist shops. The best preparation, of course, is to bone up on the Book of Revelation.
Monastery of St. John
Towering over Skala and, for that matter, over the south part of Patmos island, is the medieval Monastery of St. John, which looks far more like a fortress than a house of prayer. Built to withstand pirates, it is certainly up to the task of deterring runaway tourism. The monastery virtually controls the south island, where the mayor wears a hat but the monastic authority wears a miter. In 1088, with a hand-signed document from the Byzantine emperor Alexis I Comnenus ceding the entire island to the future monastery, Blessed Christodoulos arrived on Patmos to establish here what was to become an independent monastic state. The monastery chapel is stunning, as is the adjoining Chapel of the Theotokos, whose frescoes date from the 12th century. On display in the treasury is but a fraction of the monastery's exquisite Byzantine treasures, which are second only to those of Mount Athos, a monastic state.