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. |
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.
In the Bible
"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)
History
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
| Location: | Hora, Patmos, Dodecanese, Greece |
| Phone: | 22470/31-234 |
| Hours: | May-Aug Sun 8am-1pm and 2-6pm, Mon 8am-1:30pm, Tues-Wed 8am-1:30pm and 2-6pm, Thurs-Sat 8am-1:30pm. Otherwise, hours vary. |
| Cost: | Free |
| Festivals: | Easter; Feast of John the Theologian (Sept. 25-26); Feast of Khristodhoulos (Oct. 20-21) |
Getting There
You can either take a KTEL bus up to the Monastery of St. John (it runs regularly) or take the 40-minute walk up a beautiful old cobbled path that begins on the main road in Hora. The Cave of the Apocalypse is about 20 minutes into the walk.
More Information
- Monastery of St. John, Theologian - ThePlaka.com
- Island Guide: Patmos - The Times Online, May 9, 2004
- Patmos Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Patmos Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
- Reviews of the Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos - TripAdvisor
- Review of Monastery of St. John - IgoUgo
