Greek Sunrise

Our ship made two ports of call today: first, in the morning, at the Greek Island of Patmos, and in the afternoon, at Kusadasi, Turkey. This album is on Patmos.

Greek Sunrise

Patmos

Coming into Patmos. The fortress–looking building on top of the hill is the Monastery of St. John, which we who took the optional tour (34 euros) visited.

Patmos

Patmos

Church on the water, one of 300 churches on the island, one for each nine residents. Patmos is called the Holy Island of the Aegean, the Island of the Revelation, and also the Island of the Apocalyse, because St. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelations on this island.

Patmos

Patmos

Farther along.

Patmos

Patmos

Closer–up view of the Monastery of St. John.

Patmos

Patmos

We went off the ship on tenders, which then dropped us off at the harbor. Photo of tender coming to the Serenade.

Patmos

Patmos

Our tender operator.

Patmos

Patmos

Another tender sailing toward the Serenade.

Patmos

Patmos

Tender ready to take on the next group of passengers.

Patmos

Patmos

We took a bus up the hill to our first stop: the Monastery of the Apocalypse. Dress code and behavior expected sign.

Patmos

Patmos

Monastery of the Apocalypse.

Patmos

Patmos

View of Patmos from the Monastery of the Apocalypse.

Patmos

Patmos

Another view from the Monastery of the Apocalypse.

Patmos

Patmos

Our tour group in front of the monastery. We did not go into the monastery’s church.

Patmos

Patmos

The mosaic over the door of the church.

Patmos

Patmos

Walking down the hill––the only monk of the monastery.

Patmos

Patmos

We next walked down 42 steps at the side of the monastery to reach the Cave of the Apocalypse, where St. John the Evangelist (also called St. John the Apostle and St. John the Divine) lived while he was on Patmos. He was banished here by order of the Roman Emperor Dometian. It is believed that he dictated the Book of Revelations (Book of the Apocalypse) to his disciple Prochoros here. There are niches in the wall of the cave where St. John rested his pillow and where he pulled himself up. There is also a ledge that he used as a desk. In the ceiling of the cave, there is a three–fold crack which is said to have been made by the Voice of God and symbolizing the Holy Trinity this can be seen in the photo). No photos were allowed in the cave. This photo is from a book I bought on Patmo

Patmos

Patmos

Bells of the Monastery of the Apocalypse.

Patmos

Patmos

We left the Monastery of the Apocalypse to drive up to the Monastery of St. John. View of Patmos from the hill.

Patmos

Patmos

Another view––in this photo, you can see the Serenade.

Patmos

Patmos

We had a bit of a strenuous walk up to the monastery from where our bus let us off.

Patmos

Patmos

Oldest house on Patmos––over 250 years old.

Patmos

Patmos

Restaurant sign on the way up the hill.

Patmos

Patmos

The cats of Patmos.

Patmos

Patmos

Narrow lane.

Patmos

Patmos

Inside the Monastery of St. John. This medieval monastery is over 900 years old. In 1088, the Blessed Christodoulous was given the whole island of Patmos to found an independent monastic state. Today, there are about 40 monks at the monastery.

Patmos

Patmos

Wall frescoes on the outside of the church.

Patmos

Patmos

More frescoes.

Patmos

Patmos

More frescoes.

Patmos

Patmos

Ceiling frescoes.

Patmos

Patmos

We were not allowed to take photos inside the church of the monastery. I took these photos from the book that I bought on Patmos. On the left: the carved wooden iconostatasis of the main church; on the right, the Old Sacristy. There was also a museum at the monastery containing priceless ecclesiatical treasures: books and manuscripts, medieval vestments, jewelry, etc. No photos of the collection were allowed.

Patmos

Patmos

Bells of the monastery––photo taken from the first level.

Patmos

Patmos

View of the upper level.

Patmos

Patmos

View of the upper level.

Patmos

Patmos

Looking down into the courtyard.

Patmos

Patmos

View of Patmos and of a man in a window. Photo taken on walk down the hill from the monastery.

Patmos

Patmos

Closer–up of the man in the window.

Patmos

Patmos

Now there is only one cat on the ledge.

Patmos

Patmos

We were given some time to shop here.

Patmos

Patmos

Greek men having coffee and conversation.

Patmos

Patmos

Supermarket.

Patmos

Patmos

The tender returned to shore after dropping us off back at the Serenade.

Patmos