Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian (also called Monastery of Saint John the Divine) is a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in 1088 in Chora on the island of Patmos. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage site.[1] It is named after St. John of Patmos.
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Exterior view of the monastery walls | |
| Location | Patmos, Greece |
| Part of | The Historic Centre (Chorá) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Pátmos |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii)(iv)(vi) |
| Reference | 942 |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd session) |
| Coordinates | 37°18′33.08″N 26°32′52.99″E |
  Location of Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Greece | |
History
In 1088, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos gave the island of Patmos to the soldier-priest John Christodoulos. The greater part of the monastery was completed by Christodoulos three years later. He heavily fortified the exterior because of the threats of piracy and Seljuk Turks.[2]
330 manuscripts are housed in the library (267 on parchment), including 82 manuscripts of the New Testament. Minuscules: 1160–1181, 1385–1389, 1899, 1901, 1966, 2001–2002, 2080–2081, 2297, 2464–2468, 2639, 2758, 2504, 2639, and lectionaries.[3]
As of 2012, 40 monks reside here. The monastery has, amongst its relics, the skull of Saint Thomas the Apostle.[4]
See also
Footnotes
- UNESCO, World Heritage Site #942, webpage:WHC-UNESCO-942.
- "Monastery of St. John, Patmos". July 20, 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- Manuscripts by place at the INTF.
- "The Skull of the Holy Apostle Thomas in Patmos". www.johnsanidopoulos.com.
External links
