Monastery of St. John, Patmos 
Bells of the Monastery of St. John, Patmos, Greece.
The Monastery of St. John the Divine (Agios Ioannis o Theologos), also known as the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, is a fortress-like Orthodox monastery on the island of Patmos in Greece.
In 1088, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos gave the island of Patmos to the soldier-priest Ionnis Khristodhoulos "the Blessed." The greater part of the monastery was completed by Khristodhoulos in just three years. Its heavily fortified exterior was necessitated by the threats of piracy and Seljuk Turks.
The monastery consists of interconnecting courtyards, chapels, stairways, arcades, galleries and roof terraces. Hidden in the walls are fragments of an ancient temple of Artemis that was destroyed in the 11th century. The main chapel is lovely, as is the adjoining Chapel of the Theotokos, whose frescoes date from the 12th century.
The Treasury has an impressive array of religious art and treasure, mainly consisting of icons of the Cretan school. The star exhibits are an unusual mosaic icon of Agios Nikolaos and the 11th-century parchment granting the island to Khristodhoulos.
About halfway up (or down) the cobbled path that leads here is the Cave of the Apocalypse, the very place where St. John is believed to have received his revelations.
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 admission to monastery; 6€ to treasury |
| Festivals: | Easter; Feast of John the Theologian (Sept. 25-26); Feast of Khristodhoulos (Oct. 20-21) |
| Tips: | Go early or late to avoid tour group crowds. |
You can either take a KTEL bus up to the monastery (it runs regularly) or take the 40-minute walk along a beautiful old cobbled path that begins on the main road in Hora.
More Information
- Monastery of St. John, Theologian - The Plaka
- Patmos Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Patmos Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
- Reviews of the Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos - TripAdvisor
- Monastery of St. John - IgoUgo user review
- Island Guide: Patmos - The Times Online, May 9, 2004
