Sailing to Patmos, Greece--"The Island of Revelation"
Dear Traveler, After a night of unusually strong winds, our Star Clipper ship gracefully sailed into the port of Skala at the island of Patmos. Not typically frequented by major cruise lines, the main draw to the tiny rocky island, located right off the west coast of Turkey, is its close association with the Bible. One can see the main town, in greek Chora, perched on the highest point of the Patmos from the sea level with the fortified Monastery of St. John -- the Theologian. To reach the Chora, a narrow windy road passes the Cave of the Apocalypse and its sacred grotto, believed to mark the spot where St. John, during his exile in Patmos, received visions from Christ and wrote the Book of Revelation at the end of 1st Century A.D. Over the following centuries, Patmos became a significant Christian pilgrimage site, and the holy area is now on the UNESCO list. Key Historical Note #1 : The New Testament Gospel According to John is generally thought to include the Book of Revelat