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The Monastery of St. John the Theologian

It was erected by Hosios Christodoulos in the year of 1088 AD over the ruins of the ancient Temple of goddess Diane (Artemis). The Emperor of Byzantium Alexios Comninos 1st helped and assisted the work of Osios Christodoulos. It is a building in the form of a mediaeval citadel with walls and battlements. This construction protected the Monastery from pirates' attacks. The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece The Monastery is situated at the top of the hill, where nowadays is also built the capital town of the island called Hora (or Chora), which town from its height dominates over the whole island. The dedicated to Hosios Christodoulos of whom the sacred sepulchral church dedicated to St. Jean the Theologue is of a Byzantine art. It is decorated with fresco paints of an exceptional art belonging to various periods.
It has also a wood curved temple of a marvelous carpentry art. Among the ancient icons of this church is the icon of St. John the Theologue donated by the Emperor Alexios 1st, as well as the icon of St. Nicolas worked in mosaic. The church has two chapels. The located at the right side is relics are lodged into the reliquary of the church. The chapel located at the left side is dedicated to St. Virgin Mary. The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece It is decorated with fresco paints of the 17th century. As it is said, the Sacred Altar of the church is a massive stone from the Temple of goddess Diane. Also in the front yard of the Monastery exists several antique pillars. Inside the Monastery there are also eight small chapels with icons of Byzantine art of a high value.
The Treasury of the Monastery

It contains precious relics preserved for a lot of centuries. Among them we can name: sacerdotal garments of bishops woven in gold thread with pretty embroideries and surmounted with precious stones. Into the glass cases there are laying a lot of sacred objects, namely: precious crosses, sacred communion cups, mitres of Emperors and Patriarchs.

The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece Among these relics are also comprised: the mitre of Emperor of Byzantium Alexios 1st, the mitre of Neophytos VI, Oecumenique Patriarch, which is made of gold weighing 3 kilos and surmounted with precious stones, a medal Cross of Patriarch Gregory V, a martyr of the Greek Nation.
The Library of the Monastery

It was founded by Hosios Christodoulos, who, it is said, procured the first books. Today the Library possesses a quantity of 900 manuscripts among which the 325 are written over parchments. It exist also more than 2000 volumes of ancient editions and 13000 copies of various documents. A catalogue of these books was authored by John Sakelion, which book appeared in the year 1890.

The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece The catalogue was later completed by the Deacon Callimachus. Among the most important manuscripts we must name the following: the manuscript of Diodore Sikeliotis, the Purple Code, an incomplete copy of Evangelist Mark's Gospel, the book of Job, manuscripts of the 7th and 8th century AD, sermons of St. Gregory the Theologue, the Gospel of Four - a manuscript dated from 1345 AD - which contains very beautiful images of the Evangelists, 29 roll manuscripts on parchments
containing the test of Messes written of St.Basile the Great and St.John the Chrysostome and many other of several prelates, the Glossarion (vocabulary), which is a dictionary of the Greek language written on parchment, the did of gift of Emperor Alexios Comninos I, by which this Sovereign donated the island of Patmos to Hosios Christodoulos. Finally there exist a lot of documents of the Byzance Emperors, the Patriarchs, the Princes and other Dignitaries. The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece The School of Patmos (Patmiada Scholi)

This educative Institution was founded by deacon Makarios Kalogeras in the year of 1733. During Turk's domination the School of Patmos developed a preponderant activity about revival of the Greek Nation. The great men of the contemporary history of the Greek Nation were the most students of the Patmos School.

The Associates of the "Philiki Heteria" (patriotic association), the most important Emmanuel Xanthos, Demetrios Tsesmelis and the great Master of Greek educative development Adamantios Korais, the Oecumenique Patriarch and martyr of the Greek Nation Gregory V, the Patriarch Anthimos I and other eminent men, all of them have attended the School of Patmos. The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece
The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece Convent of Zoodochos Pigi (Source of Life)

It is for women and is located to the SE of the Monastery of St. John. It was founded in 1607 by the Patmian religious monk Parthenios Papakostas. It is a specimen of a pure insular sanctuary and the second largest cluster of buildings in the island. Inside the monastery are two churches.

One is of Zoodochos Pigi and the other of St. John. Both are ornamented with icons of Byzantine style (17th century). There are also cells for the nuns and the guests that complete the group of buildings of the monastery which by its white color enhances the magic of the landscape that surrounds it. The monastery is surrounded by courts bright of flowers. The Monastery of St. John in Patmos Island / Greece

 

 
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Charter Boat to Patmos

While following your Biblical tour program in Turkey, you may use our boats to take your group to Patmos Island for a daily trip. By chartering the boat, you may visit this holy island, tour the Monastery of St. John, The Holy Cave, and have a Mass. Private ferryboat charter service for Samos and Patmos Islands, Greece.

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