Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos
A mosaic over the entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse depicts the revelation received by John. Photo
Michael Porter. 
Monk at the Cave of the Apocalypse. Photo © Sacredsites.com.
Interior of the Cave of the Apocalypse. Photo © Sacredsites.com.
View of Patmos from the cave. Photo
Angie Fried.
Location map and aerial view of Cave of the Apocalypse. For a larger interactive view, see our Patmos Map.
About halfway up to the Monastery of St. John on Patmos is the Cave of the Apocalypse. This sacred grotto is believed to mark the spot where St. John received his visions from Christ that he recorded in the Book of Revelation.
History
"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet..." (Revelation 1:9-10)
St. John the Theologian, commonly identified with the Apostle John, was exiled on Patmos around 95 AD and received revelations from God by means of a voice from a cleft in the rock.
It is thought by some scholars that John was from Ephesus, which is a short boat ride from Patmos and which received the first of the letters addressed to the Seven Churches of Revelation.
A sanctuary and the Monastery of the Apocalypse were later built around the cave that tradition identified as the site of John's visions.
What to See
The cave entrance is marked with a mosaic portraying the visions of John and inside the small grotto, you can see the nightly resting place of John's head, fenced off and outlined in beaten silver.
Available here is a brochure written by Archimandrite Koutsanellos, Superior of the Cave, which provides an excellent description of the religious significance of each niche in the rocks, as well as the many icons in the cave.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Cave of the Apocalypse |
| Location: | Patmos, Greek Islands, Greece |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Greek Orthodox |
| Categories: | Biblical Sites; Sacred Caves |
| Features: | Vision Site |
| Status: | active |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Hora, Patmos, Dodecanese, Greece |
| Coordinates: | 37.309951° N, 26.54733° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 22470/31-234 |
| Festival: | Feast of John the Theologian (Sept. 25-26); Feast of Khristodhoulos (Oct 20-21) |
Travel Resources
- Patmos Map - our detailed interactive map of Patmos, plus hand-picked links to more
- Patmos Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
Article Sources
- Island Guide: Patmos - The Times Online, May 9, 2004
- Reviews of the Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos - TripAdvisor
Last updated on July 20, 2010.
