Greece, Patmos

Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. One of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese complex, it has a population of 2,984 and an area of 34.05 km (13 square miles). The highest point is Profitis Ilias, 269 meters above sea level.

There are remains of an ancient settlement on the hill Kastelli, overlooking the port of Skala. The island was uninhabited from the 6th century A.D. until 1088, when Osios Christodoulos arrived to found the Monastery of St. John the Theologian.

Patmos was captured by the Italians in 1912 during the Turco-Italian War, and remained under their control until the end of World War II, when it was ceded to Greece.

The Municipality of Patmos, which includes the offshore islands of Arkoi (pop. 54), Marathos (pop. 6), and several uninhabited islets, has a total population of 3,044 (2001 census) and a combined land area of 45.039 km².

Patmos' main communities are Chora (the capital city), and Skala, the only commercial port. Other settlements are Grikou and Kampos. The churches and communities on Patmos are of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. In 2006, the island's historic center Chora, along with the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse, were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Patmos is perhaps most well-known for being mentioned in the Christian scriptural Book of Revelation. That book's introduction states its author, John, was exiled to Patmos, where he was given (and recorded) a vision from Jesus.

The current mayor of Patmos is Grigoris Kambosos.