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The island of Patmos
constitutes one of the most important islands of the Dodecanese
complex and this is because other than being a tourist center,
at the same time it is a sacred worshipping area. Don't forget
that it is the island of the Apocalypse and this proves the intense
presence of the ecclesiastical art and architecture.
The sight seeing, worth visiting are naturally to basically include
monasteries, which are the focal point of the visitors, if we
exclude the cosmopolitan resorts of the cities of Chora and Skala.
One thing is certain either with its exquisite beauty, or with
the intense religious element, or with its holiday resorts, the
island will enchant you and seduce you to discover it.
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CHORA-
It is one of the most idyllic landscapes of the island
and is maybe the most striking "section" (Chora in Greek,
means country, land, region) evident on a Greek island.
Situated on a hill it imposingly overlooks the grandiose
monastery of Apostle John, while the whole scenery is
complimented by the white of the neoclassical buildings.
A fantastic architectural composition that enchants
and leaves its visitor speechless.
The whole scenery is completed with the graphical small
alleys and the fantastic arches, each of which has its
own name. Ingenious samples of traditional architecture,
which contributed to the economic and social harmonization
of the residents.
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It is worthwhile to walk in
these small alleys and to feel the vividness and nobility that
emerge from them. The various neighborhoods in Chora will fascinate
you with their simplicity and at the same time, with the glamour
that sprouts out from every little corner. Looking on the west
side of the Monastery you will have the chance to see various
neighborhoods parading one after the other, Allotina, Laoura,
Maggouri, Pezoula, Niochori, Elemonitria, Lornia, Kilimountra
and Lotzia.
On the east side of the Monastery you will come across the neighborhood
of Christ, the Fournous, Lakkakia, Girokomeio, Kritika, Misolotzia,
Aporthiana, Prodromos and Milous. Totally 51 churches are located
in the city of Chora, some of the most important being, the church
of Agios Dimitrios from the 15th century, Panagia the Diasozousa
from 1559, Panagia Koimitirion from 1592, Agia Kyriaki Natali
and the Ipapandi from the 16th century, the Agioi Apostoloi of
1603, Agios Onoufios from 1611, Agios Georgios of Sifandou from
1636, Agia Anastasia and Christos of 1639, Agios Georgios of Pothas,
Agia Aikaterini, Agios Georgrios of Fournous and Agioi Apostoloi
Adelfosinis on the 17th century, Megali Panagia from 1783, Agios
Nikolaos Alonaris from 1816 and Agia Irini , Agios Christophoros
, the Agioi Taxiarhes and Panagia of Stavros.
There is also a women's monastery of Zoodohou Pigis, the monastery
of Apostle John Theologos and in the southeast the monastery of
Evangelismos. The monastery of Apostle John Theologos was built
by the reverend father Christodoulos from Nikaia of Vithinia and
belongs to the patriarchy of Constantinople. It stands imposingly
on the peak of the mountain with its bell tower standing out and
the height of the walls causes the admiration of the visitors.
The monastery was built over the ruins of the ancient temple of
Artemis and thereafter on the ruins of the Grand Basilica church
of Theologos. The building of the temple was very difficult since
the task was very time consuming and required a lot of craftsmen
and workmen. Christodoulos began the construction of the walls
of the Monastery to protect the buildings that he was going to
construct later. The entrance to the Monastery is located at the
north walls between two rectangular towers and exactly on top
of it there is a balcony without flouring which they used to call
"the murderer" because they used to throw the conquerors into
blazing hot oil and melted led in it.
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Past the gate
you come across the house of the janitor and following
that is the internal courtyard with the main monk quarters,
temple, and catholic, the 10 chapels, altar and cells.
The courtyard is paved with gravel and is surrounded
with bows that operate as supports to the buildings
that are situated on the side.
South of the courtyard there is a Venetian bowed gallery
and on the north side the gate is situated.On the west
we come across the walls of the cells and on the east
a domed gallery that constitutes the external narthex
of the Catholic. The Catholic is comprised of the external,
the internal narthex and the chapel of Theologos.
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The present walls are not the originals, since from those times
restorations, expansions, additions have been made to the small
towers and ramparts for the best possible security. The height
of the walls exceed 15 meters while the shape of the surrounding
walls reminds you of an irregular rectangle, with a length of
71 meters starting from east towards the west and 52 meters from
north to south. The sides of the walls and towers have various
shapes.
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