With, pilgrimtours.gr you can also have an extention to your organized vacation, a short trip to Classical period, Roman domination, the Byzantine Empire, the Crusades and Modern times: Greece through the centuries will unfold before you on these One – Two - Three days or Four Day tours.

Athens Sighseeing - Half Day Athens city tour with Acropolis Museum

Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 13.30

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop). Continue and pass by the Prime Minister's residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). While on the Acropolis you will visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis museum.

Delphi - One Day

Dep. 08.45 - Ret.19.00

Drive through the fertile plain of Beotia, crossing the towns of Thebes connected with the tragedy of King Oedipus - Levadia and Arachova (short stop on the way back). Arrive at Delphi, the center of Ancient World - the "Omphalos" (Navel of Earth) - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum containing such masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. Lunch in the modern village of Delphi, return to Athens by the same route.

Argolis - One Day

Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 19.00

Leave by the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea, (short stop).

Drive to Mycenae, the Homeric city of Atreides, the city "rich in gold" o f the ancient poets.

Visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs e.t.c.

Depart for Nauplion through the fertile plain of Argolis, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress (short photo stop), leave for Epidauros, to visit the Theatre (4th century B.C.) famous for its astonishing acoustics.

Return to Athens by the National road connecting Epidauros with Corinth. Lunch in Mycenae.

Delphi - Two Days

Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 19.00 (2^nd day)

1^st day: Drive through the fertile plain of Beotia, crossing the towns of Thebes, Levadia and Arachova arrive in Delphi, the center of the Ancient World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum containing such masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer. Afternoon free. Dinner. Overnight.

2^nd day: The whole morning is free for you to see more of the ragged grandeur of Delphi and take photographs to remind you of its beauty. Return to Athens by the same route.

Argolis- Two Days

Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 19.00 (2^ndday)

Participants in this tour will have an afternoon and a morning free in order to see more of the picturesque town of Nauplion that the Venetians called "Naples of Greece"

1^st day: Corinth Canal - Mycenae (visit & lunch) - Nauplion, afternoon free. Overnight.

2^nd day: Nauplion - Epidauros (visit) - return to Athens.

Hydra - Poros - Aegina - One Day Cruise

Dep. 08.00 - Ret. 19.15 approximately

In the morning we take you by bus, from Athens to Piraeus for your embarkation to the cruise boat.

At: 08.30 depart to Hydra, where we arrive at: 11.45. Here you have free time for a walk or a swim.

At: 13.30 embarkation and sail for Aegina past through Poros and seashore of Peloponnese. The lunch will be served during the voyage.

At: 15.30 we arrive at Aegina where you have time for a swim. Optional excursion, by bus, to the fine preserved Temple of Afea Athena.

At: 18.00 embarkations for the voyage of return to the port. Arrive to Piraeus, late in the after noon.

Greece has been one of the first cradles of Christianity and therefore all Greek Orthodox Shrines are integral parts of our National Heritage, being at the same time a notable attraction for travelers from around the world. Orthodox Churches from early Christianity years, Byzantine times and later, with extraordinary icon paintings on fresco or mosaic and unique relics, prove the direct spread of Christianity throughout Greece. Remarkable are also the Orthodox Monasteries around Greece that played important role not only spreading Christianity, but helped in the preservation of Greek literature and the arts, with examples from the Ottoman rule period, when the clergy men created the "Secret schools” supposedly illegal underground schools for teaching the Greek language and Christian doctrines, where hope for freedom flourished and the poor Greeks were also finding sanctuary helping with cultivating peaces of land belonged to the Monasteries and getting some income from the crops.

The Orthodox Monasteries of Mount Athos and the ones built on natural sandstone rock pillars called Meteora, are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. All around Greece the visitor has the opportunity to admire Byzantine basilica churches and early Christian chapels build on top of Greek ancient temples, coexisting in one mosaic of cultures and religions. Another very important role have the religious museums created in several Greek Churches and Monasteries to preserve Greek Orthodox heritage, highlighting the strong link between art and religious worship and the important role of the church in Greek history.

1.  Individual Pilgrims who have dominating religious motivations and they like to visit exclusively the religious sites.

and

2. Group Religious Travel, one of the best ways to develop community among people and we will be your best choice to plan a trip for your group, church or organization.

Pilgrimtours.gr offers a variety of religious destinations to choose from. Unique programs exploring Christian routes, walking the paths of the Apostles, to deepen your faith every step of the way on this spiritual journey. You simply decide which type of travel experience would most perfectly fit your group's, church, ministry or organization's interests. All our itineraries are tailor made to suit your group's needs and iterests. We will provide you with detailed schedule planning and services, making sure that you won't waste time or effort.

Our long-standing presence in the market and religious travel co-ordination, guarantees that we offer excellent personalized services, combined with the best rates.

When you organize a Pilgrim group with us:

- The itinerary is custom made for your group

- You choose your own departure date and length of stay

- We plan your pilgrimage to suit the group's budget

Contact us for a unique Religious travel experience !

APOIKIA – ANDROS

15th of August … Greece celebrates!

One of the biggest celebrations of Orthodoxy is August 15, the day of the Assumption. The Virgin Mary has been given many names in Orthodoxy, depending on the way she was iconographed, the theological status, the age of the icon, the way the icon was found, and the place of origin of the icon. There are also names given to her depending upon the time her celebration fell on. The icons of the Virgin were claimed to have been found in many cases in miraculous ways, which motivated Christians to establish churches in her name.Thousands of believers flock each year to worship the image of the Virgin Mary and plead for help. Churches and monasteries dedicated to the Virgin Mary welcome visitors to brilliant festivities on August 15th, the day of Her Assumption.

This day, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is not a day of mourning for her loss, but a celebration of joy for the union of the mother with her beloved son, the blossoming of nature, the flood of emotions, and the return of people to their native land.In every region of Greece, there is a ritual associated with that day. Customs and old traditions revive on August 15th. Here are some of the most popular celebrations from all across Greece:

Island of Tinos – Panagia of Tinos

The pilgrimage to Panagia of Tinos is probably the largest religious pilgrimage of Hellenism. The island is completely associated with the Virgin Mary, and thousands of believers flock to the island every year to venerate the miraculous image of Mary in the Church of the Blessed Virgin and to say their vows. The image of believers kneeling or climbing the stairs up to the icon is the most characteristic. The procession of the epitaph of the Virgin Mary is similar to the procession of the Epitaph of Christ on Good Friday, with thousands of believers to follow with lighted candles. The festival lasts until August 23 and, along with celebrations for the Virgin Mary, the island celebrates the anniversary of the sinking of the battleship Elli by Italians which took place shortly before the war with Italy, in mid-August 1940.

Island of Paros – Panagia Ekatontapyliani

One of the most impressive churches in the Aegean, the early Christian church's Ekanontapyliani, is located in Parikia, the capital of Paros and it is one of the oldest and best preserved Christian churches. Believers from all over Greece gather here in mid-August to venerate the image of Panagia Ekatontapyliani (created in the 17th century) and take part in the festivities. After the procession of the epitaph, begins the great festival of the people, partying until the early hours, with traditional music, Parian wine and local delicacies. At the same time, in the port of Naoussa Paros, dozens of boats approach the pier with lit torches. The view becomes more impressive with the arrival of ‘pirates' who start the festival with island dances, especially the ”Balo” dance.

Imathia (Kastania) – Panagia Soumela

Thousands of believers from all over Greece and abroad flock each year to attend the events that take place in Panagia Soumela, the historic church located on the slopes of Vermion, near the village Kastania. The church was built in 1951 by refugees from Pontos, in memory of the historical monastery, the ruins of which are located on Mount Mela, near Trabzon in the Black Sea. Here exists the miraculous image of Our Lady, crafted by Evangelist Luke. On Assumption Day, the procession of the holy icon of the Virgin Mary is followed by many believers. On top of this great festival of Christendom, Pontian bands from Macedonia offer unique moments with traditional tunes and a long-lasting celebration.

Ioannina (Zagoria)

Famous throughout Greece are the feasts of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Zagoria. In villages such as Vitsa and Tsepelovo, the commemoration of the Assumption lasts three days and offers the opportunity for endless feasting with traditional continental dances. While the first two days of the festival are open to everyone, on the third and last day of joy, the locals enjoy themselves with traditional local dances.

Island of Skiathos - Epitaph Mary

On the island of Skiathos, thousands of pilgrims flock from around the island and the neighbouring places on the eve of the feast, where the Epitaph of the Virgin Mary takes place in a unique atmosphere of piety, under the melody of praises for the Virgin Mary sung together by the islanders.

Island of Lesvos (Agiassos) – Virgin Agiasotissa

Most of the pilgrims, starting from the city of Mytilene, walk 25 km to reach the churchyard, where they stay overnight. On the feast day of Our Lady, after the procession of the icon around the church, festivities begin with lots of music and dance events in the village square. Local festivals, street vendors, dance groups and folk bands are all part of the traditions in Agiassos, on the Assumption Day.

Island of Nisyros – Panagia Spiliani

This custom is dedicated to the woman. Women dressed in black take a leading role in the religious activity. They stay at the monastery of Panagia Spiliani inside the castle of Knights, worship and clean the area and the sacred vessels. Two parallel religious rituals take place – one by the priests and the other by the women in the role of priestesses that follow strict fasting, doing 300 prostrations every day and singing. On the day of the Assumption, the mass is followed by a procession around the icon of Virgin Mary to the village to bless the feast. The priestesses hold trays with boiled wheat and pave the way to the sacred icon. The feast starts when the icon arrives at the village, with the traditional dance of "koupa”, singing and drinking plenty of wine, while Enniameritisses withdraw.

Island of Patmos – Epitaph Mary

On the island of Patmos, the island of Orthodoxy, where everything revolves around the historic Monastery of the Apocalypse, the monks follow the custom of the Epitaph Mary, a custom of Byzantine origins. The gold epitaph of Mary wanders the streets of the island in a grand procession, while the bells of the monastery and other churches ring incessantly.

Kefalonia – Lady Fidousa

Numerous believers gather each year in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Fidousa in Markopoulo, Kefalonia to see the “Lady of the Snakes”. Every August 15, small snakes appear in the belfry and the church committee collects them in the yard of the Holy Temple. According to the tradition, snakes bring good luck to the island. If they do not appear, it is a bad omen, as happened, for example, in the year of major earthquakes in Kefalonia, some decades ago.

Easter Celebration In Greece

Easter is the one of the most sacred holidays for people in Greece. In the Orthodox Church the feast of Easter is officially called Pascha, the word which means the Passover. It is the eternal Passover from death to life and from earth to heaven.

Easter (Pascha) begins on the Saturday of Lazarus (the Saturday before Palm Sunday) with children and their teachers being very happy because they will spend two weeks far from school.

The Christian symbolism of Easter was first underlined by the Apostle Paul. When the Christians began to celebrate Easter, they retained some of the features of the Jewish Passover, while at the same time adding others. This can be seen from the paschal lamb and the red eggs.

People gather in church every evening throughout Holy Week, especially on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and on Holy Saturday, the night of the Resurrection.

Holy Thursday is the day for dyeing eggs red. The egg, is a symbol of life, while red is the colour of life.

In the evening, after the reading of the 12 Gospel, the girls undertake the decoration of the Bier of Christ (Epitaphios) with garlands of flowers, so that in the morning of Good Friday it is ready to receive the image of the body of Christ when He is taken down from the Cross.

Good Friday, the Procession of the Bier

Good Friday is a day of mourning. The drama of the death of Christ is followed with great devoutness. The icon of Christ is taken off the cross, wrapped in linen and put it in the Bier (Epitaphios) symbolizing the tomb of Christ.

Late at night the bier is carried through the town or village. A band or choir playing or singing solemn music precedes the procession; they are followed by the cantors, the clergy, women bearing myrrh, the altar boys carrying the liturgical fans, scouts and guides, and the people of the region, who sing the hymns throughout the procession. All along its route, people scatter flowers and perfumes on the Epitaphios (bier), holding lighted candles in their hands. It is difficult to speak about Easter in Greece without getting emotional. It is even more difficult to speak about the night of Good Friday and keep my emotions out of this text.

There is something special about this night. The air is full of the scent of flowers, it is still but not heavy, there is a melancholic feeling all over but there is also something different. There is a feeling of stillness, emptiness, calmness and the hearts seem to open to accept the Love of Jesus' sacrifice. This is more likely to experience in a small village but it is obvious also in bigger towns in the more remote and quiet neighbourhoods.

Greek Easter, the Resurrection

On Holy Saturday evening, the Resurrection mass takes place. One hour before midnight everybody goes to the church, each carrying an unlit candle. The churches are crowded and it is not uncommon for many people to stay outside of the church. The mass can be heard from loudspeakers placed outside of the church.

Later during the mass, all lights in the church will be turned off and then the priest will exit the altar with a candle lit by the Holy Light. The Holy Light is transferred by plane from Jerusalem, where it appears in a miraculous way in the Holy Sepulchre (Tomb of Christ). Read more about the Holy Light.

The Holy Light is distributed by the priest to all people in and out of the church. If people can get back home without their flame going out it, is said they will have a good year.

A few minutes before midnight everybody together with the priest exits the church and, exactly at midnight, the priest announces the resurrection of Christ (Christos Anesti):

"Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life"

After the late-night resurrection service of the Greek Orthodox Church, resurrection soup 'Mageritsa' is served to the congregation.

On Easter Sunday, spit-roast lamb is the centrepiece of the table. In the early morning, the spits will be turning in the courtyards and as the lamb, "kokoretsi" is slowly cooked, and the aroma of the roasting lamb whets the appetite of the hungry souls. Christopsomon, a round, flat loaf marked with a cross and decorated with red Easter eggs, is another Greek Easter delicacy that should not be missed out, when you are celebrating Easter in Greece.

APOIKIA – ANDROS

The monastery of Saint Irene was founded in 1780 at Archontas in the village of Apoikia by the Spiridou brothers, both of whom were monks. At that time it was a nunnery, but in 1833 it was abandoned, due to King Otto's Royal Degree which demanded the dissolution of the orthodox monasteries, which numbered about 1000 in Greece, with a smalls number of monks or nuns and the confiscation of their properties.

Gradually, the buildings around the church collapsed, although the church remained in good condition. In 2006, Captain Eleftherios Polemis bought the field which included the ruins of the monastery. He and his family renovated the buildings around the church and did maintenance work inside the church, remaining true to the previous architectural form. The renovation took 10 years to be carried out. Nowadays, the monastery plays a big role in the community. It holds summer camps for children, many of whom are orphans..

Furthermore, throughout the whole year it houses the following exhibitions:

- History of writing (Kairis Collection)
- Traditional musical instruments
- Collection of stones and minerals (Spiros Mpellas collection)
- Botanical collection (Elli Mandaraka - Stamatiadou)

The church (dome basilica) is well worth viewing: it is made from slate with arches, the dome is based on trianglur spheres and the walls are built of traditional stone. Especially notable are the floor with an eagle and the marble 'iconostasis' with its flower decoration, dating from 1806. The museums should be visited and there is a wonderful view of the city of Andros and the coastline with the sea from the Monastery.

The Monastery is open every day from 10:00–17:00, including Sundays and celebration days.

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"In The Footsteps Of St.Paul The Apostle In Greece"

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Religious Tourism ... is not a novelty.
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Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia Greece.

A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Today Greeks commonly refer to Mount Athos as the "Holy Mountain"

Though land-linked, Mount Athos is accessible only by a single boat, the St. Eshpigmenitis. The daily number of visitors entering Mount Athos is restricted and all are required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period.

Entry to the mountain is usually by ferry boat either from the port of Ouranoupoli (for west coast monasteries) or from Ierrisos for those on the east coast. Before embarking on theboat all visitors must have been issued adiamonētērion, a form of Byzantine visa that is written in Greek, dated using the Julian calendar, and signed by four of the secretaries of leading monasteries. There are generally two kinds of diamonētēria: the general diamonētērion that enables the visitor to stay overnight at any one of the monasteries but only to stay in the mountain for three days, and the special diamonētērion which allows a visitor to visit only one monastery or skete but to stay as many days as he has agreed with the monks. The general diamonētērion is available upon application to the Pilgrims' Bureau in Thessaloniki. Once this has been granted it will be issued at the port of departure, on the day of departure. Once granted, the pilgrim can contact the monastery where he would like to stay in order to reserve a bed (one night only per monastery). The ferries require reservations, both ways.

The duration of the general visa can be extended by several days by personally applying at the main office in Karyes.

Most visitors arrive at the small port of Dafni from where they can take the only paved road in the mountain to the capital Karyes or continue via another smaller boat to other monasteries down the coast. There is a public bus between Dafni and Karyes. Expensive taxis operated by monks are available for hire at Dafni and Karyes. They are all-wheel drive vehicles since most roads in the mountain are unpaved. Visitors to monasteries on the mountain's western side prefer to stay on the ferry and disembark at the monastery they wish to visit.

Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of theVirgin" by monks,and Orthodox Christians take precedence in the permit issuance procedure. Only males over the age of 18 who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church are allowed to live on Athos, either as monks or as workers.

Prohibition on entry for women

There is a prohibition on entry for women, called avaton (Άβατον) in Greek, to make living in celibacy easier for those who have chosen to do so. Monks feel that the presence of women alters the social dynamics of the community and therefore slows their path towards spiritual enlightenment.

Life: monasteries, sketae, and cells

Today the 20 monasteries of Mount Athos are the dominant holy institutions for both spiritual and administrative purposes, consolidated by the Constitutional Chart of the HolyMountain. Although, since the beginning of Mount Athos' history, monks were living in lodgings of different size and construction quality. All these monastic lodging types exist until today, named as seats, cells, huts, retreats, hermitages, caves, sketae and all of them are known under the general term "dependencies" of the Holy Monasteries. The term "cells" can be used under a more generalized meaning, comprising all the above but sketae, and following this term we can talk about three different kind of institutions in Mount Athos: monasteries, sketae and cells.

Monasteries

A pilgrim/visitor to a monastery, who is accommodated in the guest-house can have a taste of the monastic life in it by following its daily schedule: praying (services in church or inprivate), common dining, working (according to the duties of each monk) and rest. During religious celebrations usually long vigils are held and the entire daily program is radically reshaped. The gate of the monastery closes by sunset and opens again by sunrise.

Cells

A cell is a house with a small church, where 1–3 monks live under the spiritual and administrative supervision of a monastery. Monastic life in the cells is totally different from that in a monastery. Some of the cells resemble tidy farmhouses, others are poor huts, others have the gentility of Byzantine tradition or of Russian architecture of the past century. Usually, each cell possesses a piece of land for agricultural or other use. Each cell has to organize some activities for income. Besides the traditional occupations (agriculture, fishing, woodcarving, spirit distillation, iconography, tailoring, book binding etc.) new occupations have been taken up, for example taxi driving, couriers, car repairing and computer services. The monk(s) living in a cell, having to take care of all daily chores, make up their own schedules. For the pilgrim/visitor it is worth experiencing this side of monastic life as well, but most of the cells have very limited or no capacity for hospitality.

Sketes

Small communities of neighboring cells were developed since the beginning of monastic life on Mount Athos and some of them were using the word "skete" meaning "monastic settlement" or "lavra" meaning "monastic congregation". The word "skete" is of Arabic origin and in its original form is a place-name of a location in the Egyptian desertIt is in the Egyptian desert where monasticism made its first steps. This is exactly the main idea of a "skete", the communal way, just between the hermetic way and the coenobitic way of monasticism, with all 3 coexisting until today.

In the northwest corner of Thessaly, the wide bed of the Pinios River emerges

from the mighty canyons of the Eastern Pindus Mountains that plummet abruptly onto the Thassalian plain. Here, in the shadow of the mountains and just beyond the town of Kalambaka, massive gray coloured pinnacles rise towards the sky, the Meteora a strange but breathtaking landscape that has been sculpted by wind and water over thousands of years. These smooth, vertical rocks have become a favourite destination for rock climbers who are, perhaps, the only ones today who can truly appreciate the feat of the 9th century hermits who first climbed them to settle in the caves and fissures of the rocks. On Sundays, they clambered down from their cells to celebrate mass in Doupiani and as their numbers increased, the Theotokos of Doupiani was

established as the first semi-organized community during the 11th century.

By the 14th century, the Byzantine Empire was already on the wane and the monastic communities of the Athos peninsula were increasingly besieged by Turkish pirates. After an encounter with brigands, three monks, Gregory, Moses and Athanasius, left the Monastery of Iviron on the western coast of the peninsula to search for a new home. They had heard of ‘miracles' taking place in the land of the great rock forest and on arriving there, settled on top of the rock called Stylos or the Pillar where they built a hesychasterion or wooden hut. Later, Athanasius assembled a small community and constructed a few cells and a chapel in a cave on the nearby Platys Lithos or the Broad Rock. The Serbian Emperor, Symeon Uros provided them with an endowment that allowed them to build the Church of the Transfiguration around 1356 and to expand the monastery with more cells and cloisters. His son, John Uros, retired here as the Monk Ioasaph about 1373 adding to the already sizable endowment enjoyed by the Grand Meteoron, also known as the Monastery of the Transfiguration. Ioasaph assumed authority upon the death of Athanasius in 1383 and he further expanded the monastery and the Church.

Meteora soon came to encompass the entire rock community of 24 monasteries. There were no steps and the main access to the monasteries was by means of a net that was hitched over a hook and hoisted up by rope and a hand cranked windlass to winch towers overhanging the chasm. Monks descended in the nets or on retractable wooden ladders up to 40m long to the fertile valleys below to grow grapes, corn and potatoes. Each community developed its own resources and by the end of the 14th century, the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community. Its wealth included landed estates, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle.

After Ioasaph died in 1422, Meteora gradually plunged into a period of disorder and decline. Unscrupulous men expropriated the income of the monasteries, Vlach squatters settled in Holy Trinity and Kallistratos and a squint eyed monk named Theodore lived with two women dressed as monks in the Monastery of the Pantocrator. The rock community enjoyed a brief revival of monasticism in the 16th Century under the reign of Suileman the Magnificent who relaxed earlier prohibitions on the building and restoration of Christian churches but lapsed once again into decline. By the 18th century, Meteora had become a refuge center for Greeks escaping the increasingly harsh administration and taxation of the Ottoman overlords as well as a hideout of the klephts, rebel warriors who harassed the Turks and participated in the fight for independence in the 19th century. The German and Italian occupation during World War II saw further looting and destruction of the monasteries. Today, only six monasteries survive as museums. They are sparsely occupied by a few monks and nuns but they offer a rare glimpse of Orthodox monastic life.

One of the most beautiful and distinctive of the Dodecanese Islands, Patmos is best known as the place where St. John received his visions and wrote the Book of Revelation.

A small island with a population of about 3,000, Patmos has managed to remain one of the least touristy of the Greek islands, despite its many visitors and firm presence on the cruise circuit. It remains delightfully unspoiled, yet it has still developed a good tourist infrastructure, with a number of excellent restaurants, hotels and beaches.

Patmos is located in the South Aegean Sea near the island of Kos and not far from Turkey. There are two main "towns" on Patmos: Skala, the harbor area and where most of the residents live; and Chora the hilltop area dominated by the Monastery of St. John. The monastery and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse, where the revelations took place, are major pilgrimage destinations and popular tourist sights as well. Many package tours and cruises stop in Patmos and there are frequent ferry and hydrofoil services.

The Monastery of St. Johnthe Divine (Agios Ioannis o Theologos), also known as the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, is a fortified Orthodox monastery on the island of Patmos in Greece.

History

In 1088, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos gave the island of Patmos to the soldier-priest Ionnis Khristodhoulos "the Blessed." The greater part of the monastery was completed by Khristodhoulos in just three years. Its heavily fortified exterior was necessitated by the threats of piracy and Seljuk Turks.

What to See

The monastery consists of interconnecting courtyards, chapels, stairways, arcades, galleries and roof terraces. Hidden in the walls are fragments of an ancient temple of Artemis that was destroyed in the 11th century. The main chapel is lovely, as is the adjoining Chapel of the Theotokos, whose frescoes date from the 12th century.

The Treasury has an impressive array of religious art and treasure, mainly consisting of icons of the Cretan school. The star exhibits are an unusual mosaic icon of Agios Nikolaos and the 11th-century parchment granting the island to Khristodhoulos.

About halfway up (or down) the cobbled path that leads here is the Cave of the Apocalypse, the very place where St. John is believed to have received his revelations.

About halfway up to the Monastery of St. John on Patmosis the Cave of the Apocalypse. This sacred grotto is believed to mark the spot where St. John received

his visions from Christ that he recorded in the Book of Revelation.

"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet..." (Revelation 1:9-10)

St. John the Theologian, commonly identified with the Apostle John, was exiled on Patmos around 95 AD and received revelations from God by means of a voice from a cleft in the rock.

It is thought by some scholars that John was from Ephesus, which is a short boat ride from Patmos and which received the first of the letters addressed to the Seven Churches of Revelation.

A sanctuary and the Monastery of the Apocalypse were later built around the cave that tradition identified as the site of John's visions.

The cave entrance is marked with a mosaic portraying the visions of John and inside the small grotto, you can see the nightly resting place of John's head, fenced off and outlined in beaten silver.

Available here is a brochure written by Archimandrite Koutsanellos, Superior of the Cave, which provides an excellent description of the religious significance of each niche in the rocks, as well as the many icons in the cave.

Beautiful Greece  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZeQjbmqX_w

Three-dimensional panoramic projection of the All Holy Sacred Pilgrimages via Romiosini website  http://romiosini.org.gr/panoramata.en.aspx

Information on Churches and Monasteries in North America:

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Orthodox Churches and Monasteries in North America

Other Orthodox Sites and Information

Byzantine Studies

Orthodox Christian Information Center

Orthodox Calendar

Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php

The Greek Medecins du Monde http://mdmgreece.gr/en

Médecins Sans Frontières http://www.msf.org/

The Hellenic Red Cross http://www.redcross.gr/default.asp?pid=138&la=2

St. Anthony’s Monastery http://stanthonysmonastery.org/