We took a little too long for breakfast so when we got ashore at Patmos, we couldn't find any of our tour mates to share a taxi with so we rented our own. When he reached the area of the cave used as the prison for the Evangelist John, the crowds were already lined up. The driver suggested we see the Monastery first and then catch the prison on the way back, so we did.

The view of Patmos from the Monastery was fantastic. We got lost a few times trying to find the Monastery from where the taxi driver dropped us off, but eventually we found a side entrance. Inside the church no pictures were permitted. There was some beautiful art visible from the entrance to the chapel, and magnificient tapestry and jeweled relics inside.

The doors were exquisitely carved hardwood. And inside the church itself, the iconostasis was very detailed carved wood as was the ambo whereas other furnishings were silver.

After viewing a couple of rooms, we headed back down. Several times we got a glimpse of the bell tower.

Eventually we found the front entrance, where they happened to also have a souvenir shop. Prominently displayed here is a large icon of the vision of St. John that led to his writing of the Book of Revelations and soon we were back in the cab heading for the cave where this occurred.

The line was still long, but we met up with some of the tour mates who apparently slept even later than us. Remy stayed up above since it was a very steep trek down to the cave, and one must retrace one's steps back up to get home.

There was a mass taking place in the Cave of the Divine Apocalypse, so we quietly edged our way around the little room and back out. With the low ceiling, dark light and chanting going on, it was a little eerie in there. I didn't take any pictures inside, but this image from a book we bought there pretty much caught what I saw.

Once back up at the top of the stairs, I located Remy and we picked up Gregory and Karl and headed back to the boat. We arrived at the dock with several minutes to spare, so everyone scattered to the local shops.

As the ship left shore, we celebrated Mass in the theatre again. This time we were joined by several of the nurses. Click Here for the readings from Patmos.