DOOMSDAY CAVE

The Grotto of the Apocalypse lies halfway between Skala and Chora. An ancient Byzantine path links it to the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Chora. You can walk it, but avoid the hottest hours, as there's no shade at all and the path climbs! You'll need to dress appropriately for the visit: shorts and short skirts are not allowed. The grotto is of total simplicity, uncluttered despite a few shimmering icons: it was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999 to testify to the religious importance of the site, a center of pilgrimage for the whole of Christendom. According to Christian belief, St. John, exiled to Patmos by the Roman emperor Domitian, had a vision of the Apocalypse and spoke to God in this cave in 95 A.D. He lived there in seclusion with his disciple Prochorus: Christian tradition tells us that John dictated his Gospel and the Book of Revelations, two of Christianity's most sacred works, in the cave. Notable features include an icon depicting John's vision of the Apocalypse. Note also the footprints on the rock attributed to the evangelist himself. On the rocky ceiling, a triple fissure indicates God's presence. From a small opening, a kind of window on the world, you can see the Aegean Sea and Skala below. The view is heavenly, and it's hard to imagine having any vision of horror or the end of the world in this setting!