The Island of Patmos

Situation

The Holy island of Patmos is part of a group of Greek islands known as the Dodecanese (meaning one of twelve islands) situated south of Samos,  southeast of Ikaria and northwest of Leros.

Piraeus is 161 nautical miles and Asia Minor only 25 miles away.

The island resembles that of a seahorse with bays surrounding it and it’s maximum length being 12 kilometers (over 7 miles) however it feels much bigger. Patmos has numerous beaches each having it’s unique attraction, some are sandy, others pebbly or rocky, however wherever you go the natural beauty is overwhelming.

The current population of the island is about 3000 residents most of which live in Scala which is the port area followed by Hora and Campos.

History

It was here in Patmos where St John the Theologian was exiled by the Roman Emperor Domitian around 94 BC. Over the two years of his exile he lived in the Holy Cave. It was here that he had a divine vision, being the communication between the divine and man, which he dictated to his disciple Prochoros. It resulted in the text of the Apocalypse, the last book in the New Testament.

The spirit of St John is still alive on the island today.

Twinned with Glastonbury

A lady from Glastonbury known as Zoe D’Ay visited Patmos some years ago and together with Father Martin, a monk who resides at the Monastery of St John, formed the twinning’.

It was in Glastonbury where St Joseph of Arimathea who, like St John, knew the living Christ. The Christianity that St Joseph knew and brought to England, was the same that St John brought to Patmos.

St Joseph left Jerusalem after Christ was crucified and moved to England where it was said he carried with him two Cruets holding the blood and sweat of Christ.

When planted they took root and blossomed into the Holy Thorn which still blooms. A cutting was recently taken to Patmos. At that time Glastonbury was surrounded by water and was known as the Holy Isle of Avalon.