The Monastery

The Monastery of Evangelist and Apostle John the Theologian, being constructed on the top of the top of the mountain, is so prominent, that it can be seen from any place of the island.The view of the high walls of the Monastery that jut out, surrounded as they are by the white houses of Hora, with its belfry standing out, arouses a sense of agreeable surprise, coupled with religious wonderment that induce one to ponder on the historical course of events the are connected with this beautiful and majestic edifice.

There are many things that can be said about the spiritual and social action and the spiritual treasures that there are in the Monastery. Here the highlights will be reported,that describe the spiritual and religious history of the Monastery. It started being built by Reverend Christodoulos in 1088. It looks like a castle on the outside, and that is why they wanted it to be secure enough so as to keep the monks safe from the pirates' attacks. That's the reason why such a big building, with 15 meters high walls has got only two doors. On the upper part of the wall there is a balcony without flooring, as if just suspended, therefrom they used to pour burning oil and molten lead on the raiders attempting to storm the gate. This balcony was called by the inhabitants "The Killer". When Reverend Christodoulos started the construction of the Monastery from buildings of the enclosure as he was preoccupied for the protection of the buildings that were going to be put up, from raids. In his memorandum,the Reverend describes the surrounding wall as a fortress, and as a matter of fact,it remains as such to this very day.

At the inside the architecture is somehow free,even though the cells are built round the Catholikon, or Chief -nave, according to the Byzance architecture. Apart from that the building is built on different levels and has many features from the traditional architecture of the island. The Monastery ,as it looks today, is the result of the needs that t appeared through the years for additions and rearranging, and of course of the rocky ground. The first thing seen by the visitors,is the courtyard, which is laid with pebbles and is decorated with aches which serve also as supports of the adjacent buildings. At about in the e centre of the courtyard, we see an old earthen jar. An orifice at its southwestern end, communicates with the reservoir which is underneath the courtyard. Around the courtyard, there are four, from ten in total chapels of the Monastery. In the Chief-nave of the monastery, at the north side, there is the temple that was made in 1820, by 12 skilled craftsmen. It is a unique work of art and whoever sees it stays speechless the Chief-nave there are icons of unique beauty and value. The Abbot's throne is decorated with designs of flowers made of mother -of-pearl.

A large icon of the Revelation, of 1625, that covers, at the northern wall,the entrance to the sacristy is a gift of the bishop of Laodicea Nikiforos. Nikiforos himself built the outer sacristy to keep the books and other sacred objects of the Monastery. There is also the old sacristy,which started being built by Holy Christodoulos and left in it his great value icons, and today are kept many jewels of inestimable value. The holy altar of the Monastery is believed to be made up of remains from the Temple of Diana. The sacristy is a place where each visitor of the island must visit. Priceless icons, of which one of the best is the one of Saint Nicholas, of the 11th Century. Donations from rich Patmians, silverware and unique masterpieces of which the best is the Mitra of the Patriarch Neofitos VI,which is decorated with valuable jewels and gold.

Another big chapter of the Monastery is the Library  is the written history of the Monastery and of the whole island. Among the library documents there is the document by which Alexios Komnenos I gave in 1088 to Holy Christodoulos the island of Patmos. It is a rich source for the life of the monks and the conditions set from each conqueror.(e.g. taxes, types of merchant and command)

The Monastery can be visited usually in the morning from 8:30 to 13:00 and some days in the afternoon from 16:00 to 18:00( Tuesday,Thursday,Saturday). For further information you can phone to 22470-31398.-moni@12net.gr