The Greek Island of Patmos is a significant Christian pilgrimage site. It is a place where you can just sit in contemplation. Even if you are not religious, you cannot help but be caught up in the history of biblical proportions. The most visited place is that of the Cave of the Apocalypse where St John the Theologian is said to have written the Book of Revelations. Amidst the multitude of white-washed houses is a small pathway that meanders through the Eucalyptus and Mastic trees and the occasional wild olive tree that dots the landscape. The entry is marked by a golden mosaic of strong religious worth. You quickly understand that you are in one of the most revered places in the country.
Above the cave is an 11th-century monastery dedicated to St John. Once inside you will be awe-struck by the memorabilia most in an incredible state of preservation. We are standing in a revered place and viewing phenomenal relics thousands of years old, and yet trying to imagine the time, visualise the era and the life of the people. It seems near impossible. How can this have been real, and yet it was, and we now gaze upon the proof of all that went before us.
Of all of the islands I would like to revisit, Patmos and Lemnos really stand out. The food, the images the history – there I go again, and the absolute refreshing nature of life in the Greek islands.
I can only show you a small snippet of what we saw but thank goodness for the internet images where you can see the monastery from a high vantage point or walk the sandy shores before placing yourself in a chair with both its legs and yours in the cool waters of the azure Aegean, feeling as if you are in a dream state when you have to pinch yourself to make sure the experience is real.
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