April 13, 2024 Isle of Patmos

April 13, 2024 Isle of Patmos (in Greek means "my killing")

Today's itinerary: This morning, we embark our cruise ship and sail for a visit to the beautiful Isle of Patmos, which is under statutory protection as a historic monument. Here we tour the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. 

From Ronnie's FaceBook post: After visiting over a week all the church sites mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3, we left Turkey on a cruise ship and sailed through the Samos Strait to the Island of Patmos where the Apostle John was imprisoned. It was there that he wrote the book of Revelation. The site belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Jan and I are 5-20 years older than our 10 traveling companions. Come while you can. Our motto is "sooner rather than later."

As we exited from the cave, we were taken into a museum which had all kinds of fascinating objects and documents. One document that inspired me was 33 pages of a copy of the Gospel of Mark. Known as Codex 67, it's a 6th century document. The "Purple Gospel" is written almost entirely in gold and silver on purple stained parchment.

When pirates or Turks attacked, the locals fled to the monastery for safety, but the steps to climb up there were treacherous, especially with the high wind speeds.

Monastery on Patmos

 

Jan's notes:

Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed inside the cave (now known as the "Cave of the Apocalypse") where John was imprisoned and where he wrote the Book of Revelation after being exiled to the Island of Patmos. As we shuffled along inside the cave, we saw a Greek Orthodox priest robed in black, many icons on the walls, burning candles, the 7 silver lamps hanging above the place where John slept using a rock for a pillow, wooden benches, etc. The cave was named a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2006.

This trip has included stops in each city that Paul addressed in the Book of Revelation. Pastor Craig Bollinger, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran in Charlotte, NC leads us in a short devotion at each of these locations, sharing God's messages (through the apostle Paul) to each of the seven churches. Like all of scripture, they are just as applicable today as they were to the people in those churches. What is God saying to the church (and to us) today? It is amazing to see some of the places where the apostle Paul actually preached and wrote!

 

view on our way up to cave

many steps up, many visitors and long lines to enter

many, many steps to climb

a long way on very rugged "streets"

above the door at entrance to Cave of the Revelation

???

on our way to the cave entrance

 

After leaving the cave, we were ushered into a museum filled with all kinds of relics. However, I was already exhausted after the long climb. The museum was stuffy, hot and crowded inside so I bolted for some fresh air. 

It is extremely windy at the top (think wind tunnel) and there is absolutely no point in trying to do anything with your hair before visiting such a place. Additionally, one must watch Every. Single. Step. because you're either climbing or descending many steps when walking in ruins or in places like this. It can be quite treacherous at times. On our way down, one poor guy was lying on the ground awaiting medical help. I'm convinced that our coming now was the right answer. Between my achey-breakey back and left knee (which I've tweaked on this trip), I wouldn't assume that I could make this trek even a year or so from now. So I'm very glad that we came when we did.

There were many other tour groups visiting the site besides ours and as we climbed, who did Ronnie see? Another Aggie - his second one on this trip! One in Pergamon, and now one in Patmos. The Aggie tradition when introducing oneself to another Aggie is to give one's name, followed by Class of ??" It's like a reunion! Gig 'em!

Class of 1973 & Class of 1988