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UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the
United Nations aimed at promoting peace and security through
various means, one of which is promoting cultural diversity
by preserving culture and history.
Patmos Island’s two pilgrimage and tourist attractions the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse has been considered as UNESCO sites since 1999. It has been identified as a UNESCO site under Criteria (iii), (iv) and (vi). Below describes the details of each of these criteria.
Patmos Island, which is located in the Dodecanese group, is believed to have been the place where St. John the Theologian wrote the Fourth gospel and the book of Revelation. In the late 10th century, a monastery for the “beloved disciple” has been erected in his honor. This became a place of pilgrimage for Christians, and a haven for Greek Orthodox learning as well. This megalithic monastery towers over the whole Island, just below the settlement of Chora, with it, comes buildings and architecture intertwined with the religious structure.
Criterion (iii): Since the 12th century, the village of Chora in the Patmos Island has been one of the only few settlements in Greece whose growth evolved without any known intrusions. Apart from Chora, there are other places in the world where Orthodox Christian practices are still being undone without any changes.
Criterion (iv): The monastery of Saint John the Theologian, and the Cave of the Apocalypse, as well as the village of Chora, is an outstanding example of a conventional Greek Orthodox centre of pilgrimage with exceptional interests in their architecture.
Criterion (vi): The Cave of the Apocalypse, and the monastery of Saint John the Theologian is a reminder of the ground where St John the Divine, otherwise known as the “Beloved Disciple” has written two of the most sacred Christian works, the Fourth Gospel, and the Apocalypse.
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