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.{{cleanup}}
The '''Patriarchal Exarchate of Patmos''' consists of the entire Island of Patmos (Greek: ''Πάτμος''), Leipso, Agathonesion and Arkioi and its constituent monasteries and churches. The exarchate is under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Constantinople]] in accordance with 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 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site <ref>UNESCO, World Heritage Site #942, webpage:[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/942 WHC-UNESCO-942]</ref>. 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 . 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 built build this monastery over the remains of the little church built over the remains of the 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 building 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 sense 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:
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.
== = Folklore ======= The ship that turned to stone ====According to popular belief, if one looks across the water from the Monastery of St. John on a clear day, it is possible to see a rock standing alone in the Theologian ==::''See Main Article: [[Monastery middle of Stthe sea. John The rock looks like an overturned ship with its keel facing up towards the Theologian (Patmos, Greece)]]''sky.
The '''Monastery of St. John During the time that the Theologian''' righteous Christodoulos was founded 1088 AD by Stbuilding the monastery, a pirate ship approached the island with evil intentions. [[Christodoulos prayed to God to save the Latrinos]]island from the pirates, who since they had been granted the whole island of Patmos with a golden bull no place to hide to protect themselves. God answered his prayers by capsizing the Emperor of Byzantium Alexis I Komninosship and turning it to stone. The monastery belongs island was saved, and the ship that turned to the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and stone is therefore a '''Patriarchal exarchate''' with a Patriarchal exarch, its abbot had special benefits.still around to remind us of this miracle
== See also ===== The Monastery has ten chapels, four of which are located in its yardSt. In John the Catholic Theologian ===''See Main Article: [[Monastery of St. John the monasteryTheologian (Patmos, there is a temple of unique art, created in 1829, by 12 sculptors.Greece)]]''
<gallery>
Image:PatmosEntIc.JPG|<small>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.</small>Image:PatmosPr.JPG|<small>Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Monk praying with prayer rope</small>Image:PatmosCY.JPG|<small>Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Courtyard outside the Museum and church</small>Image:PatmosBell.JPG|<small>Monastery of St. John the Theologian - Byzantine Bell at the top of monastery</small>
</gallery>
== = The Monastery Cave of the Apocalypse ===::''See Main Article: [[Cave of the Apocalypse]]''
The '''<gallery>Image:PatmosRamp.JPG|<small>Monastery of the Apocalypse - Outside the Cave</small>Image:Patmos.JPG|<small>Monastery of the Apocalypse - Inside the Cave </small>Image:PatmosV.JPG|<small>Monastery of the Apocalypse- View of Patmos from inside the Cave</small></gallery> === Theological School of Patmos ===''See main article [[Theological School of Patmos]]'' === The Baptistry of John==='' is situated between Skala and Chora. This is where St. See Main article [[Baptistry of John the Theologian(Patmos)|Baptistry of John]] saw visions (located in the village of ''fire and brimstoneSkala'') === The Rock of Kynops ==='' and dictated the See Main article [[Book Rock of Kynops (Patmos)|Rock of RevelationKynops]] to his disciple (located in the port of ''Skala'') === Caves of Kynops and Sykamia ===See Main article: [[ProchorosKynops]]. A pilgrim can easily see the rock and exact location where the Book was written and also the indentation the Saint left where it is said, he would rest his head during his exile in that cave.
The view from the cave and the mysticism === Monastery of the atmosphere are incredible. There are 12th century wall paintings and icons from 1596 of St. John and the Blessed Annunciation ===''See Main article [[Christodoulos Monastery of the Latrinos]] written by Annunciation (Patmos)|Monastery of the Cretan painter [[Thomas VathasAnnunciation]].''
It is said the voice <!--- === List of God could be heard coming from the cleft of a rock that is still visible today. The rock is divided into three which is symbolic of the [[Holy Trinity]].Churches and Monasteries ===
<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>
== List of Churches and Monasteries ==
*Chora, Patmos
**Parish of the Great Panagia
*Island of Arkioi
**Parish of the Transfiguration
== Saints and Monastics ==
*St. [[John the Theologian]] ([[September 26]] and [[May 8]])
*St. [[Christodoulos the Latrinos]], monk and wonder-worker of Patmos ([[March 16]] and [[October 21]])
*[[Apostle Thomas]] (First Sunday of Pentecost and [[October 6]])
*St. Gerasimos of the Byzantium ([[April 7]])
*St. Antipas Bishop of Pergamon ([[April 11]])
*Virgin-martyr St. Pachomius of Russia ([[May 7]])
*St. Leontas Archbishop of jerusalem ([[May 14]])
*St. Phillip the Deacon ([[October 11]])
*St. Macarius of Kalogera ([[January 19]])
*Hieromartyr Platonos of Aivazidos ([[September 21]])
<!---
Σύναξις τῶν ἐν Πάτμῳ Ἁγίων (Κυριακή μετά τῶν Ἁγίων Πάντων).
--->
<gallery>
Image:JohnTheologian.JPG|Ancient Icon of St. [[John the Theologian]]
Image:Amphilochios.gif|[[Amphilochios (Makris)]]
</gallery>
== Theological School of Patmos ==
::''See Main Article: [[Theological School of Patmos]]''
The '''Theological School of Patmos''' was founded by the deacon ''Makarios Kalogeras'' in 733 AD.=== Saints and Monastics ===
== 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==
<small><references/></small>
==External link==
*For further information about the island of Patmos see [[w:Patmos|Patmos'''Wikipedia''']]
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Dioceses]]