Patmos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patmos
Πάτμος
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Chora and the Castle of Patmos
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 Patmos
Location in Greece
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| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Kalymnos |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 45.0 km2 (17.4 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 270 m (890 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Municipality | 3,283 |
| • Municipality density | 72.96/km2 (188.95/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code |
855 xx
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| Area code(s) | 22470 |
| Vehicle registration | KX, PO, PK |
Patmos (Greek: Πάτμος) is a beautiful Greek island located in the Aegean Sea. It is very famous because it is believed to be the place where John of Patmos had special visions. These visions are written in the Book of Revelation, which is the last book of the New Testament in the Christian Bible.
Patmos is one of the northern islands in a group called the Dodecanese. About 3,283 people live there (as of 2021). The island is about 34 square kilometers (13 square miles) in size. The highest point on Patmos is a hill called Profitis Ilias, which is 269 meters (883 feet) above sea level. The area around Patmos, including some smaller nearby islands like Arkoi and Marathos Island, is called the municipality of Patmos. This larger area has a total population of 3,047 people (as of 2011).
In 1999, a special part of Patmos was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This includes the historic town of Chora, the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, and the Cave of the Apocalypse. They are important because of their strong connection to Christianity and the old religious traditions still practiced on the island. The monastery was started by a person named Christodoulos Latrinos. Patmos also has a well-known Greek religious school called the Patmian School.
Contents
History of Patmos
How Patmos Was Born: A Greek Myth
According to an old Greek myth, Patmos was once called "Letois." This name came from the goddess Artemis, who was known for hunting deer. The story says that Patmos appeared thanks to her help.
Artemis often visited a place called Caria on the mainland, which was across the water from Patmos. She had a special shrine there. One day, she met the moon goddess Selene. Selene shone her light on the ocean and showed Artemis a sunken island, which was Patmos.
Selene kept asking Artemis to bring the sunken island to the surface. Finally, Artemis agreed and asked her brother Apollo for help. Together, they convinced Zeus, the king of the gods, to let the island rise from the sea.
Zeus agreed, and the island slowly came out of the water. The sun dried the land, and life began to grow there. Over time, people from nearby areas, including Mount Latmos, moved to the island. They named it "Letois" to honor Artemis.
From Ancient Times to Today
Ancient writers did not mention Patmos very often. Because of this, we don't know much about its very first people. In the Classical period, people on Patmos said they were Dorians. These were groups of people from places like Argos and Sparta.
Around 300 BC, during the Hellenistic period, the settlement on Patmos became like a strong fortress. It had walls and towers to protect it.
Patmos is famously mentioned in the Book of Revelation. This is the last book of the Christian Bible. The book says that its writer, John, was on Patmos when he received a special vision from Jesus. Many early Christians believed this John was John the Apostle. Because of this, Patmos is a very important place for Christian pilgrims (people who travel for religious reasons). Visitors can still see the cave where John is said to have received his vision. Many monasteries on the island are dedicated to Saint John.
After John of Patmos passed away, around 100 AD, several early Christian churches were built on the island. One large church, called the Grand Royal Basilica, was built around 300–350 AD. It stood where the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian is today.
However, Christian life on Patmos faced challenges from Muslim attacks between the 7th and 9th centuries. During this time, the Grand Basilica was destroyed. In 1088, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos gave Christodoulos Latrinos full control over Patmos. He also gave him permission to build a monastery there. The construction of the monastery began in 1101.
More people came to Patmos over time. Some were Byzantine people escaping the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. Others were from Crete who fled during the fall of Candia in 1669.
The Ottoman Empire controlled the island for many years. However, the monastery on Patmos had special rights, like being able to trade without paying many taxes. This was confirmed by Ottoman documents. Ottoman rule was briefly interrupted by the Venetians, then the Russians, and later during the Greek War of Independence.
In 1912, during the Italo-Turkish War, the Italians took control of Patmos and other Dodecanese islands. The Italians stayed until 1943, when Nazi Germany took over the island.
In 1945, the Germans left. Patmos was independent until 1948. Then, along with the other Dodecanese Islands, it officially became part of independent Greece.
Patmos in the 21st Century
In 2009, Forbes magazine called Patmos "Europe's most idyllic place to live." They wrote that Patmos has changed over time but has kept its peaceful feeling. This is why many people who know the island keep coming back.
Geography of Patmos
Patmos is located off the west coast of Turkey, which is in Asia. It is one of the northernmost islands in the Dodecanese group. It is also a bit further west than its closest neighboring islands.
The island covers an area of about 34.05 square kilometers (13.15 square miles). The highest point is Profitis Ilias, which is 269 meters (883 feet) above sea level.
The main towns on Patmos are Chora, which is the capital, and Skala, which is the only commercial port. Other smaller settlements include Grikou and Kampos.
Economy of Patmos
Tourism on Patmos
The economy of Patmos mostly relies on tourism, especially during the summer. Many Christian pilgrims visit the island because of its connection to Saint John and the Book of Revelation.
The Monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse are popular places for pilgrims to visit. However, the island's beautiful beaches and quiet natural scenery also attract many other tourists.
Recently, investors from a company called SMERemediumCap (SMERC) decided to invest 20 million euro to build a luxury hotel on Patmos. This big project aims to make the island even more appealing to tourists. It is the largest investment ever made on the island. This shows SMERC's commitment to making Patmos a top tourist spot in the world.
Patmos is known as one of the quietest Greek Islands. Its natural beauty and the UNESCO World Heritage sites, combined with its strong spiritual atmosphere, often have a deep impact on visitors.
Getting to Patmos
Ferry Services
Patmos has regular ferry services, which connect it to many other ports. You can travel to Patmos from islands like Agathonissi, Mykonos, Paros, Samos (Pythagoreio and Karlovassi), Syros, Leros, Naxos, Arkoi, Lipsi, Symi, and Rhodes. It also connects to Piraeus, which is the main port of Athens on the mainland.
Famous People from Patmos
- John of Patmos, who wrote the Book of Revelation
- Patriarch Jeremias III of Constantinople, a religious leader
- Patriarch Neophytus VI of Constantinople, another religious leader
- Patriarch Jacob of Alexandria, a religious leader
- Emmanuil Xanthos, who helped start a secret society called Filiki Eteria
- Teddy Millington-Drake, an English artist
- Robert Lax, an American poet
- Emmanuel Carrère, a French novelist
- Laurence de Cambronne, a French journalist
- Amphilochios (Makris) of Patmos, a saint from the 20th century in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Patmos Around the World
Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Patmos has special connections with other towns and cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities":
Auderghem, Belgium
Grottaferrata, Italy
Glastonbury, United Kingdom
See also
In Spanish: Patmos para niños
