RELIGIOUS VISIT TO ST JOHN’S MONASTERY – GROTTO OF APOCALYPSE
From Skala’s historic port we journey up the mountain to the whitewashed architectural monument of Chora that is deeply rooted under the sacred walls of the Monastery of St. John the Divine. The imposing 15 meters high walls of the fortified cultural, religious and spiritual center, greet you at the summit.
On the deeply spiritual Dodecanese island, prayer, esoteric seclusion and solemnity are important daily practices. Allow the labyrinth of chapels and courtyards, of the majestic Byzantine monastery, to lead you to its treasures of medieval icons, sacred relics and beautiful frescoes dating back to the 12th century. There is also a museum displaying priceless religious artifacts.
Halfway down the mountain, we stop at the holy site of the Grotto of the Apocalypse. It was in this cave that St. John is said to have heard the voice of God, and was inspired to transcribe his visions in the prophetic text that became the Bible’s Book of Revelations.
Half Day
Accessibility 2
A Personal Pilgrimage
You are invited to step inside the Grotto of the Apocalypse to make a personal pilgrimage. The interior of the 6.60 m long and 5.50 m wide cave is decorated with seven silver lamps. The largest lamp hangs above the spot where St. John slept, using a rock as his pillow.
Close your eyes, and open your heart to fully experiencing the energy and beauty of this intensely sacred and spiritual space.