Local transportation; Monastery of St John the Theologian.
Orthodox monk offering wares; Grotto of Revelation.
St John's Years in Patmos
Inside a nondescript white walled church atop rock whose outside lintel mentions the Grotto of Revelation is the cave of St John; once inside the church, a rather humble natural stone cave found by walking down steep & narrow, terraced staircases. Note that you must subsequently climb back up those steep & narrow, terraced staircases! Most have to duck under an area of the overhead rock. "Evidence" indicates St John was actually in the cave writing the Book of Revelation by pointing to "his head rest", "hand support" and "area where his scribe marked down the narrative", indentations in the stone. Hmmm..... A short bus ride away & further uphill is the upper monastery which was founded in the 11th c. by Hosios Christodoulos (a mouthful of a name, eh?) and called the Monastery of St John the Theologian. It appears as a walled fortress and was actually a protective garrison against pirates! Brownish stone exterior castle-style chess piece towers contrast whitewashed walls, dotted by tourists hurrying to & fro.
