The island of Patmos, or Greece's Holy Island, is the site where the Apostile John or Saint John the Divine wrote the text of Revelation. At Easter time the island comes alive and tourists flock here every year to take part in the holy events that lead to Christ's Resurrection on Holy Saturday.
On Holy Tuesday a solemn procession of the icons in the monastery takes place in the main town.
On Holy Thursday, the center of these church ceremonies and Christian services is the “Washing of the Disciples’ Feet”. On this day, a platform is raised in the main town, or Chora, and then the ceremony begins. The Bishop usually plays the role of Christ and he washes the feet of twelve monks – in lieu of what the Bible has written of Christ’s actions before his Crucifixion.
The reenactment of the Deposition from the Cross takes place in the Monastery of St. John. On the same evening, Epitaphs of the various churches fill the narrow cobbled streets and paths of the island to meet at the central squares of Ησra (a UNESCO world heritage site) and Skαla (Patmos’ port).
In the evening of Easter Saturday, the Monastery opens its gates to welcome us for the celebration of the Resurrection. Locals and visitors have the unique opportunity to attend an Eastern Orthodox mass in a mystic atmosphere of devout concentration, held in one of the most important Christian monasteries. Then “Christσs Anιsti” (Christ has risen) is heard, and an impressive display of fireworks light up the night sky.
The highlight, however, is Sunday at 3 in the afternoon when a Second Resurrection is held at the Patmos Monastery. The Gospel of the Resurrection is read, in seven various languages, and is chanted in heroic hexameters, with a kontio. Red eggs are also distributed to all those in attendance.
Finally, on the Second Day of Easter, or the Monday after Easter, a celebration is held in Skala, during which the Municipality distributes free food to all the visitors.
Patmos has been one of UNESCO's Monuments of Global Heritage. The monastery and its treasures, the preservation and maintenance of the Chora settlement from the Middle Ages to the present time, and the sacred Cave of the Apocalypse were the basic reasons why ICOM has chosen Patmos for this special accolade and distinguished it by characterizing it as a monument of global cultural heritage.
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