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 St. John the Divine, the author of the Book of Revelations or the Apocalypse, has been exiled in the Patmos Island by Roman Emperor Domitian in 95 AD. Here, it has been believed in the tenets of Christianity that St. John received the words of God through a dream the shape of things to come – which in turn he has written as the Revelations.
It was believed that during his exile, St. John the Divine has made this cave his home. The very cave is believed as the core of his nerve-wracking revelations, which he has instructed his disciple Prohoros to write down and eventually became the Book of the Apocalypse, the final book in the New Testament. Today, the cave is enclosed within a sanctuary, where, in turn, a convent is built upon.
Inside the cave, tourists can gaze upon the beauty of the cave and what has inspired St. John to write. Rock formations in the cave are volcanic and rare, taking hundreds of years to cool off and glimmering at some points from the water it has trapped inside.
At the right side is the sacred cave and St. John’s church. In between the cave and the church is an uncanny rock formation – a rock split into three, as if three fingers about to make the sign of the Cross. It is also symbolized as the Holy trinity.
There are various niches found in the cavern. One niche at the back of the cave is fenced off, which shows a rock where the Saint has laid his head to rest. Another niche shows a symbol of a Greek cross which is believed by many as something done other than human hands.
Opening Hours
May-Aug : Sun : 8am -1pm and 2pm-6pm
Mon : 8am-1.30pm
Tue-Wed : 8am-1.30pm and 2pm-6pm
Thur-Sat : 8am-1.30pm
Admission Fee : Free Upon venturing the cave of the Apocalypse, a monk or a spiritual guide will tour you through the whole premises. Pilgrims and tourists take their time to meditate and pray as they are in holy ground.
The Cave of the Apocalypse, or Revelation is just within some walking distance from Skala. The main entrance may be found on the main road between Skala and Hora. It may be reached via the regular bus routes that run daily in all villages, and by foot, which requires walking to the “Old Path” in Skala.
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