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The '''Patriarchal Exarchate of Patmos''' consists of the entire '''Island of Patmos''' (Greek: ''Πάτμος''), '''Leipso, Agathonesion and Arkioi''' and its constituent monasteries and churches, belonging to the [[Church of Constantinople]] under the Venerable Patriarchal and Synodical Act and Statute 1155/81. Patmos island is also referred to as the '''Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea''', since it is the island of ascetic austerity. The Patriarchal Exarch and Abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian is His Grace Archimandrite [[Andipas (Nikitaras) of Patmos|Andipas Nikitaras]].

== History ==
Patmos is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese and is populated with [[church]]es and communities of Orthodox Christians. During the period of Roman rule, the island fell into a decline and the population decreased and the island became a place for banishing criminals or political and religious troublemakers.

In 95 AD, St. [[John the Theologian]] was sent into exile on the island as a religious ''troublemaker''. He remained on the island for eighteen months during which he lived in a cave below a known temple, at the time, dedicated to Diana. In this cave, he narrated a vision he was having of [[Jesus]] that is the [[Book of Revelation]] which describes the details of the [[Apocalypse]] but is more a description about the "the Church" - ''outside of time''. Revelation was also written as an exhortation to the Christian believers to stay true to their faith during the persecutions near the end of the first century.<ref>P. N. Tarazi, ''The New Testament - Introduction, Vol. 3 - Johannine Writings'', St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood, New York, 2004  ISBN 0-88141-264-3</ref> 

In 313 AD, Christianity was recognised by the Roman Empire and this also spread to the Dodecanesse. The empire of the Byzantium exercised control of Patmos and the other islands and by the 4th century the temple to Diana had been removed. Directly over this temple a church dedicated to St. John the Theologian was built but this was destroyed later between the 6th and 9th centuries during a series of raids by various Arab groups.

The island remained deserted until 1088, when the Emperor granted Patmos to the monk Christodoulos. His intention was to establish a monastery and build this monastery over the remains of the little church built over the remains of a temple dedicated to Diana. The monastery, has since been in continuous operation for over 900 years.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the island of Patmos was also subject to raids by the Saracen and Norman pirates, which were the catalyst for the fortified walls surrounding the monastery giving it the modern day castle-like appearance. The small town (Chora) within the "castle" was probably established during the middle of the 17th century and has a labyrinth style street arrangement. <ref> Labyrinth style street designs are common on the islands purposely arranged to create a sence of confusion to pirates or threats intent on raiding the towns. </ref>

During the Turco-Italian War of 1912, Patmos was captured and controlled by the Italians. The island remained under their control until the end of World War II, when it was returned to Greece. 

The whole island is dominated by the two monasteries, built in his honour and memory, and Chora, the island’s historic center, are all declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 2006.

=== The God-Trodden island ===
The tradition of the church holds, that the Lord himself stepped foot on the island of Patmos using the following account as reference:

:In the Book of the Revelation (Apocalypse, Chapter 1:12-18) a detailed description of the appearance of Christ in His glory is given by the Apostle ... ''"His countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength" (Rev. 1, 16)''. St. John continutes by describing his actions to this ... ''"he fell at His feet as dead" (Rev. 1, 17)''

For the church, this proves that Christ's feet were touching the floor of the cave for if it had been a vision in heaven, he would not have been able to fall at His feet. This wondrous bodily presence of the Lord in the cave is reason ascribed to the great earthquake that made the rock in the Cave of the Apocalypse split in three forming a witness to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

To the church, this is the only location in Europe that God has walked making it the most sacred destination in Europe, followed by Mount Athos.

== Patmos and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian ==
''See Main Article: [[Monastery of St. John the Theologian (Patmos, Greece)]]''

<gallery>
Image:PatmosEntIc.JPG|Monastery of St. John the Theologian - 1738 entrance with icon of St. John the Theologian and St. Chrysostom, founder of the monastery, both holding the monastery in their hands.
Image:PatmosPr.JPG|Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Monk praying with prayer rope
Image:PatmosCY.JPG|Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Courtyard outside the Museum and church
Image:PatmosBell.JPG|Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Byzantine Bell at the top of monastery
</gallery>

== The Monastery Cave of the Apocalypse ==
''See Main Article: [[Cave of the Apocalypse]]''

<gallery>
Image:PatmosRamp.JPG|Monastery of the Apocalypse - Outside the Cave
Image:Patmos.JPG|Monastery of the Apocalypse - Inside the Cave
Image:PatmosV.JPG|Monastery of the Apocalypse - View of Patmos from inside the Cave
</gallery>

== Theological School of Patmos ==
''See main article [[Theological School of Patmos]]''

== The Baptistry of John==
''See main article [[Baptistry of John (Patmos)|Baptistry of John]], in the town of ''Skala''

== The Rock of Kynops ==
''See main article [[Rock of Kynops (Patmos)|Rock of Kynops]], in the port of ''Skala''

==See also==
=== List of Churches and Monasteries ===
{{InProgress}}
<!---
*Chora, Patmos
**Parish of the Great Panagia
**Parish of Our Lady of the Cemetery
**Parish of the Ipapanti of Christ
*Skalas, Patmos
**Parish of St. John the Baptist
**Parish of St. Nicholas
*Netia, Patmos
*Parish of Apostle Thomas
*Kambos, Patmos
**Parish of the Evvagelismos of the Virgin-Mary
*Island of Leipso
**Parish of St. John the Theologian
*Island of Agathonision
**Parish of St. George
*Island of Arkioi
**Parish of the Transfiguration
--->

=== Saints and Monastics ===
{{PatmosSsList}}

=== World Heritage Classification, UNESCO ===
*Date of Inscription - 1999
*Reference No. 942
*Criteria: (iii), (iv) and (vi)
**''(iii)'' - The town of Chorá on the island of Pátmos is one of the few settlements in Greece that have evolved uninterruptedly since the 12th century. There are few other places in the world where religious ceremonies that date back to the early Christian times are still being practised unchanged. <ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </ref>
**''(iv)'' - The Monastery of Hagios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian) and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the island of Pátmos, together with the associated medieval settlement of Chorá, constitute an exceptional example of a traditional Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre of outstanding architectural interest. <ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </ref>
**''(vi)'' - The Monastery of Hagios Ioannis Theologos and the Cave of the Apocalypse commemorate the site where St John the Theologian (Divine), the “Beloved Disciple”, composed two of the most sacred Christian works, his Gospel and the Apocalypse. <ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </ref> <ref> Note on Criterion (iv) - A delegate of Thailand raised the question of eligibility of criterion (vi). He thought that the criterion should be applied. This recommendation was also endorsed by ICOMOS and the Committee. Delegates and observers commended the high values of the site and decided to keep the criterion.</ref>
*Documentations
**1999, [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/942.pdf/ "Advisory Body Evaluation"]
**1999, [http://whc.unesco.org/p_dynamic/sites/passfile.cfm?filename=942&filetype=pdf&category=nominations/ "Nomination File"] (9.886 MB file)
**1999, [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom99.htm#942/ Decision "Report of the 23rd Session of the Committee"]

==Notes==
<references/>

==External link==
*[[w:Patmos|Patmos]]

[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Dioceses]]