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The Convent of Evangelismos
The convent of Evangelismos Mitros Egapimenou (The Annunciation to the mother of the Beloved One) is located at the mosaic dependency of the Evangelistra (Our Lady of the Annunciation) on the southwest side of Chora on a very lovely bay. The dependency was built in 1613 by a hieromonk from the Monastery of St. John the Divine, Nikiphoros Kretas, who was from Crete.
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It is built on the side of a deep ravine, like a platform. The rock which soars up round it has its roots fed by the rushing stream of Keras Leousa ending at the "Gardens of Hoisos" on the bay of the same name on the west coast of Patmos, facing the Icarian sea. The dependency consists of the church of the Evangelistra, the side-chapel of Ayikos Loukas (St. Luke) and a three-storey defensive tower with the side-chapel of Ayios Antonios (St. Anthony). |
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As the inscription on the inner lintel of Ayios Loukas states, Nikiphoros built it out of gratitude to the saint. During has residence at the hermitage he was attacked by the deadly disease of plague; he prayed to the Evangelist Luke who cured him. The founding of the Convent of the Evangelismos dates to 1937 and was the work of the hieremonk from the Monastery of St. John the Divine, Amphilochos Makris. |
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This old man was a great spiritual figure and worked hard for the establishment and the development of the convent. Both the dependency of the Evangelistria and the Convent of Evangelismos Mitros Egapimenou carried on noteworthy activity during a difficult period for the Greek nation. During the Occupation in the Dodecanese, when the Italians forbade the use of the Greek language, a "secret school" was organized there where nuns, who were teachers, taught. |
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After the liberation of the Dodecanese, Amphilochos Makris was asked to send a group of nuns to help organize the orphanage on Rhodes. This mission was indeed carried out and the group of nuns set up at one and the same time a foundling hospital, a nursery school and a public school. Besides the orphanage on Rhodes the nuns are today occupied with beekeeping, vegetable gardening, flower gardening, icon painting and sewing of religious garments and embroidery the "spitha" ("sword") stitch was traditionally connected to Patmos. |
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Its teaching goes all the way back to the time of Hosios Christodoulos when this stitch was used on the embroideries of the aristocratic families of Byzantium. But with the passage of time it was forgotten until Amphiliochos Makris himself urged the nuns to revive it. The icon painter, Sister Olmypiada, a student of Fotis Kontoglou, the great Byzantine icon painter, belongs to the holy sisterhood of the convent. |
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The Convent of Zoodochos Pigi
The convent of Zoodochos Pigi ("Life-Giving Source") lies to the southwest of the Holy Monastery of St. John the Divine and is the second most populous convent on the island, after Evangelismos. It was founded in 1607 by the Patmian hieremonk Parthenios Pangostas.
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Its nuns carry out laudable philanthropic work while at the same time occupying themselves with handicrafts: embroidery, the sawing of religious garments and so on. Ecclesiastical traditions are carried on here as well, including the ceremonies for the feast-day of the Virgin Mary, on 15 August, consisting of the minor and major Paracletian Canon and the funeral, with the eulogies for the Virgin, just like the eulogies delivered on Good Friday. |
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The Convent of Ayia Ayion
In Chora, and near the Convent of Zoodochos Pigi, is the small convent of Ayia Ayion (Holy Saints). The Hermitages of Patmos The holy island of Patmos has been a pole of attraction for hermits, ascetics and monks, who feel a profound need for peace and quiet, for contemplation and prayer to God.
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| During the period of the Turkish occupation the �kollyvades� (a group of religious traditionalists) came to the island from Mt. Athos and founded a host of hermitages and monastic dependencies, which preserved the traditions of the island�s spiritual relationships to that revivalist movement on Athos. The Patmians take care of the hermitages and hold feasts at them when the little church at a given hermitage celebrates the memory of the saint in whose honor it was built. |
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The Holy Kathisma of Profitis Ilias Thesvitos
This lies southwest of Chora on top of the highest peak on the island (260 m.) The view from the church is incredible. The whole island is spread out at one�s feet; the hills, the small plains, the lacy coastline and the settlements. This kathisma was built in 1764 by the hieromonk Neophystos of Simi. |
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The building complex consists of a small fortress with the church of Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah) in the center. The church is single-aisled with a dome and celebrates on 20 July. The view from there is unique and rewards the visitor. |
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The Kathisma of Panayia Grava
This lies between Kalamoti hill and the Evangelismos convent west of Chora. It was built around 1775 by Grigorios of Nisyros, the hieromonk Niphonas and other monks who fleeing Mt. Athos ended up on Patmos. The small church is dedicated to the Koimisistis Theotokou ( The Dormition of the Virgin) and celebrates on the name day of the Virgin Mary (15 August). |
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Its founder is thought to have been the hieromonk Grigorios Gravanos of Nisyros.
The Hermitage of Petra
This lies south of Groikos on the Kallikatzous rock. The rock was used as a hermitage during the time of Hosios Christodoulos.
The Kathisma of Hosios Christodoulos
In the area of Alykes there is a small church dedicated to Hosios Christodoulos whose iconosta-sis has a miracle-working icon, which depicts Hosios Christodoulos offering the monastery to St. John.
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The Hermitage of Panayia Epsimia
As you pass through Groikos, you see a dirt road to the right, which leads to the hermitage. It consists of a small church dedicated to the Panayia tou Stavrou (Our Lady of the Cross) and cells. Hosios Christodoulos is mentioned as its founder. It is named Epsimia ("Ripener") because September, when the church celebrates, is the month when the late crops (the "opsimo") ripen; in the local dialect this is "epsimia".
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The Bapistry
The area of Sykamia is on the road leading from Chora to Groikos. There is found the cave in which St. John the Divine baptized people and made them Christians. One can still see the clay pipes which were used to transport the water from the spring to the "Bapistry". Archaeologists believe it to be a section of an Early Christian basilica, ruins of which have been located in the area.
The Cave of Kynopas
On the southwest end of the island lies the cave of Kynopas or Genoupas, near the cape of the same name, on the slopes of a hill, also with the same name. According to tradition, Kynopas was a pagan magician, and was opposed to St. John the Divine preaching the Gospel. Today there is a chapel there to Ai-Yannis tou Spilitoi (St.John the "Cave-Dweller") that celebrates on 8 May.
The Kouvari Hermitage
This lies on the northern shores of the bay of Stavros. Its proprietor was the hieromonk Amphiliochos Makris, the later founder of the Convent of Evangelismos Mitros Egapimenou. He also founded a monastic dependency for men, dedicated to losif Mnistora ( Joseph the Bethrothed).
The Kathisma of Ayia Paraskevi of Kavos
The lies to the left of the "Gardens of Hosios" on the southwest side of the island. It consists of cells and the small church of Ayia Paraskevi which has a miracle-working icon; it celebrates on 26 July. |
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The Kathisma of Pnayia Koumanas
On the north side of the bay of Skala can be seen Mt. Koumana. The name is probably derived from the former renter of the area, Koumanis, a name already known by the 13th century. On the ridge of this steep mountain is the kathisma of Ayioi Pantes (All Saints) or the Panayia tis Koumanas as the locals call it in honor of the miracle-working icon found there. |
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Its proprietor was Ayios Makarioa Notaras the Corinthian.
The Kathisma of Apollos
This lies northeast of Yeranos in the area of Thermia, and is named after the one who founded it, a certain Apollos. It consists of a small church, cells and a walledin enclosure. This church has a tale surrounding it's erection: during one of the all night vigils which took place in the monastery of St. John the Divine, Apollos delivered the reading connected to the particular feast-day.
There was a ship-master there, Captain Lazaris, who had been forced by bad weather to stay on the island. He was so impressed by this reading that the inquired about Apollos, learned all about him and visited him at his hermitage to ask him if he needed anything. |
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Apollos replied that he needed anything. Apollos replied that he needed nothing. But in the end he revealed that he had the desire to found a small church and the captain hastened to satisfy this desire, selling the rice that he had in the hold of his ship and giving the money to Apollos. The church that was founded was dedicated to Ayioi Pantes. (All Saints) |
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The Leivadi ton Kaloyeroi
(The "Monks' Meadow"). This lies on the north side of the island, south of Cape Sardella. It was called the "Meadow of Koutrolis", after the name of its original proprietor.In the 18th century the hieromonk Parthenios Partheniades, one of the Kollyvades, arrived on Patmos, accompanied by several other monks and the Meadow of Koutroulis was ceded to him by its owners on the condition that he pay them 25 piastres a year. Thus he became the first proprietor of the dependency and for that reason it is called the kathisma of Parthenios. |
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While following your Biblical tour program in Turkey, you may use our boats to take your group to Patmos Island for a daily trip. By chartering the boat, you may visit this holy island, tour the Monastery of St. John, The Holy Cave, and have a Mass. Private ferryboat charter service for Samos and Patmos Islands, Greece. |
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