Description of the attraction
In the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea lies the small Greek island of Patmos. Its magnificent natural landscapes, stunning wildlife, excellent beaches, important historical sites and the special atmosphere of the island attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world. The island of Patmos is also famous and deeply revered in the Christian world. It is here that the monastery of St. John the Evangelist and the famous cave of the Apocalypse are located.
According to church tradition, at the time of the persecution of Christians, the Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his ardent faith. Together with his disciple Prokhor, the apostle lived in a small cave on the slope of a deserted hill. It is here around AD 67. Saint John heard the voice of God and received his "Revelation", which was dictated from his words and was recorded by Prochorus. This scripture, also known as the "Apocalypse", is the last canonical book of the New Testament.
The Apocalypse Cave has survived to this day and is the main attraction of the island. It is located near the monastery of St. John the Evangelist. Above the cave was built a small church with two side-altars - the first side-altar, more spacious, in honor of St. Anne and a small side-altar, which is actually the cave of "Revelation". Here you can see the place where Saint John slept and the famous triple cleft, from which, according to tradition, the Apostle heard the Holy Voice. The silver circle on the wall marks the place where the hand of John the Theologian lay, and under the scarlet cover there is a stone lectern, behind which Prokhor wrote the famous "Revelation".
The Cave of the Apocalypse is an important historical monument and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This shrine is revered by both Orthodox and Catholics and annually attracts a huge number of pilgrims.
