IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία Μετάφραση : Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος (19/10/2006) Για παραπομπή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , "Patmos", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη Περίληψη : Γενικές Πληροφορίες Area: 34.142 km2 Coastline length: 72 km Population: 2,984 Island capital and its population: Patmos (625) Administrative structure: Region of South Aegean, Prefecture of the Dodecanese, Province of Kalymnos, Municipality of Patmos Local newspapers: Patmiaka Chronika (is being published at Patmos), Patmiaki (is being published at Athens) Local radio stations: Radio Patmos, Style FΜ, Patmos Municipal Radio Station Local TV stations: TV Patmos Museums: Vestry of the Monastery of Agios Ioannes Theologos Archaeological sites and monuments: Hellenistic Fortification at Kastelli, Monastery of Agios Ioannes Theologos Traditional settlements: Scala, Chora Natural monuments: The north and the south part of the island have been declared Important Bird Areas of Greece Cultural clubs: Association for the Protection and Promotion of Patmos, Kambiotes Association "Evangelistria", Patmos Women Association "Patiniotissa", Patmos Women Association "Spitha", Patmos Theatre Group, Patmos Association "Techni" Festivals: Festival of Sacred Music of Patmos "The Holy Apocalypse of Music" (September). On Monday after Easter the Municipality of Patmos organizes festival Religious feasts: On St Panteleimon's day at Chiliomodi (July 27th), Transfiguration of the Saviour at Kambos (August 5th and 6th), Procession of the icon of Virgin Mary at Chora (August 14th), Dormition of the Virgin Mary at Panagia Geranou and at Panagia Exoskalas (August 15th), Panagias Erimitiriou at Livadi Kalogiron (August 23d), Holy Cross (September 13d), On St Theklas' day at Agia Thekla islet (September 24th), Monastery of Agios Ioannes Theologos (September 26th), On Apostle Thomas' day (October 6th), On St Christodoulos' day (October 21st), On St John's day (May 8th) Sport events: "Xantheia" (May) Sport clubs: Patmos Sport Club "Xanthos Patmios" 1. Topography – environment Geographically, Patmos belongs to the Dodecanese, situated in the northern part of this island complex. It is a volcanic, rocky and arid island, with sparse vegetation. The few trees that can be seen on the slopes, mostly near settlements, are the result of recent afforestation efforts. The terrain has a vivid plasticity, featuring tall and precipitous hills, alternating with lowland areas. Its shoreline is variegated, with sequences of bays, coves and promontories. In several bays, behind the beaches there are meadows, while agriculture is practised mainly on the hill-slopes. The climate is mild during the winter and cool during the summer, and a notable feature of the local climate is the extraordinary limpidity of the atmosphere and the cloudless skies. Patmos receives very little rainfall, and this, in conjunction with the scarcity of natural water springs, has always been a serious issue for its inhabitants. 2. History Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/9/2021 Σελίδα 1/7 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία Μετάφραση : Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος (19/10/2006) Για παραπομπή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , "Patmos", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη 2. 1 Prehistory - Antiquity The earliest traces of habitation on the island have been identified on several sites, like Kastelli, Kalikatsou, Aspri, Kampos, Leukes. These consist in pottery finds and stone tools dating to the Middle and Late Bronze Age (2000-1100 BC). No Minoan or Mycenaean findings have been unearthed to date. Remains from the Geometric and Archaic periods are mostly found in Kastelli, an important settlement of the island, which was fortified with a strong defensive wall in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC; this site bears signs of continuous habitation during the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Very few ancient sources mention anything about the island, and even these testimonies are insubstantial. Patmos was first referred to by the historian Thucydides in the 5th cent. BC: Paches, the admiral of the Athenian fleet pursued the Spartans, “…as far as the island of Patmos.”It is later mentioned also by ο Strabo, Pliny and other writers, but they do not offer any detailed information either. Together with its neighbouring islands, Patmos was dependent on Miletus, at least until the Hellenistic Period. One of the patron goddesses of Patmos was Artemis Patmia, connected to Artemis Skythia, and it is thought that her temple stood at the site where the monastery of St John the Theologian was later built. During the late Roman Period, it appears that Patmos was used as a place of exile and seclusion, where the political adversaries of the Roman emperors were dispatched. According to the Christian tradition, the Apostle John, the “beloved”disciple of Christ, was exiled here in the last years of Domitian’s reign (around 95 AD). During his stay, aided by his loyal student Prochoros, John composed the Apocalypse (Revelation), preached Christianity and baptized the locals. 2. 2. Byzantine Period – Knights Hospitallers Later on, during the 4th – 6th centuries, Christianity spread and became predominant in the Dodecanese. Many architectural members today incorporated in the Monastery as well as in residences of the settlement testify to the existence of Early Christian basilicas. An inscription also mentions the existence of an altar (and possibly a basilica) dedicated to the “glorious Apostle and Theologian John”on the site today occupied by the Monastery. In the following centuries (700-900) the island was devastated by the onslaught of the Arab pirates, which resulted not only in the destruction of Patmos, monuments but also in the capture and sale of its inhabitants on the slave markets. Patmos acquires special importance during the Middle Byzantine Period, when, in 1088, osios Christodoulos Latrenos, one of the most brilliant figures of Byzantine asceticism, founded there the Monastery of St John the Theologian. The Emperor Alexius I Komnenoi ceded to him the island in its entirety, the islets of Narkioi (today Arki or Arkioi) and Leipsoi as well as two suburbs of the city of Leros, Parthenion and Temenion, and granted the Monastery the privilege to own a flotilla, which was used to maintain a steady flow of supplies, but also for conducting trade. On this barren island, Christodoulos was accompanied by some faithful companions, a few monks and the artisans who built the monastery. Initially these artisans settled on Cape Eudelon, on the north, so as to not disturb the quiet life the ascetics wished to lead. Soon though, they were forced to relocate close to the fortified walls of the monastery for safety considerations, to protect themselves against the frequent pirate raids, thus creating the first settlement nucleus of Chora. The monastery, inasmuch as it enjoyed “absolute, inalienable and perpetual ownership and every authority”over the island as a result of the imperial donation, acted as an arbiter, controlling the life and social behaviour of the settlers. In their majority, these made their living by catering for the monastery’s needs by farming, tending the cattle and manning its ships, while gradually new settlers were added coming from the nearby islands and the opposite coast of Asia Minor. The settlement retained its form virtually unaltered up to 1453, when refugees from Constantinople created the “Allotina”( literal. ‘of yore’) quarter. A couple of centuries later, following the sack of Candia (1669), Cretan immigrants created the “Kritika”( Cretan) quarter. Patmos suffered greatly, mainly on account of the incessant pirate attacks, which during the 12th century had created an atmosphere of grave insecurity, largely stemming any financial and commercial pursuits. The monastery’s –and by extension, the island’s– position was ameliorated in the 13th century, with the development of renewed intellectual activities accompanied by a partial or total Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/9/2021 Σελίδα 2/7 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία Μετάφραση : Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος , Κούτρας Νικόλαος (19/10/2006) Για παραπομπή : Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , Κεφαλά Κωνσταντία , "Patmos", 2006, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη reaffirmation of older privileges. The 14th century is also a period of hardship, for the Ottoman captures a large part of Asia Minor, while the Dodecanese are seized, in 1309, by the Knights Hospitallers. Patmos lies on the borders of these two powers. In the period of the wars between the Ottomans and the Venetians (1451-1481,1491-1512), however, the monks maintained a policy of equal distances, and managed to obtain privileges and protection from the Ottoman and the Knights Hospitallers, laying the foundation for economic growth and prosperity. 2. 3. Ottoman Period – Modern Times With the retreat of the Hospitallers from the Dodecanese in 1522, begins the period of Ottoman rule, during which the monastery flourishes, and with it the island. This period is marked by a booming of seafaring and maritime trade and new social realignments. The 16th and 17th centuries see the building of the first lordly mansions, i.e. of large, autonomous agricultural complexes;