PATMOS A REVELATION IN GREECE

The very cave where John was shown the Throne of Heaven.

The Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, known as the Jerusalem of the Aegean, dates back with its Holy Significance to 95 AD when the monk John and his disciple holed up in the cave.

He was exiled by the Romans for either his faith, or his interest in astrology or magic. After all, performing miracles was part and parcel of who he was.

Since John was not a criminal, he was a semi threat, stripped of his citizenship and wound up on the desolate island, not a tourist attraction then. He really had to fend for himself – how would he have eaten, kept warm during winter and what did they drink? The Greek table wine retsina wasn't part of the cruise package. The island was rugged.

This is the very spot where Christ appeared to John and knocked on the door saying 'If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.'

Then John was granted a look into the doorway of heaven. The mystery of this vision is revealed in Revelation books 3 & 4 – I just don't know why a movie wasn't made of this. The special effects of the thrones of the Apostle , Angels and sacred Elders would have been amazing.

All this in a rocky, desolate and barren area.

All that changed throughout the years. Around 1080 the Monastery was built. Those who do their homework fully understand the significance of the sacred spot. It was where John saw a vision of fire and brimstone and began dictating the book of the Revelation to his disciple who could read and write. John probably couldn't. Still, the vision is fully described in the last book of the New Testament.

The hewed rock cave is really significant to Christians, historians and travelers. Many feet have walked into the space to look at the 12^th century wall paintings and icons, to see the spot where John rested his head and most of all where he said he heard the voice of God coming from the cleft in the rock – quite visible even today.

Now the place is called the Monastery of St. John – an important place of worship by the Orthodox and Western Christian faithful. It's really one of the most influential monasteries in Greece and looks like a fairy tale castle,which was built to protect a trove of religious treasures. How do you protect the spot where the voice of God was heard and transcribed?

There is the 12^th century fresco of the Hospitality of Abraham in the chapel, but that piece was painted over and only recently revealed in 1956 during an earthquake. There's the icon of St. John, a tomb and silver reliquary of the Blessed Christodoulous, not to mention loads of silver and jewels.

This is the hot spot come May 1 – during Orthodox Easter. It's a great time to plan a quick get-away to the Grecian Islands.  Go see and experience his holy site on your own. Enjoy a glass of restina.