National Greek Tourism Org.
Official licenced
#01773
4 STARS/LEFKAS
3 STARS/ATHENS
Nisos Pátmos
The northernmost of the Dodecanese. The island is composed of three barren
volcanic lumps joined to one another by narrow isthmuses. The natural
harbour of Skála lies on the central isthmus and above it is the focal
point of the island - the chora of Pátmos crowned by the monastery of St
John the Divine. The chora, like that of Astipálaia, belongs more to the
Cyclades than to the Dodecanese. The glaring white squat houses and
courtyards contrast vividly with the grey stone monastery above.
Pátmos belongs to the Christian age rather than to antiquity. St John the Divine was banished to Pátmos by the Emperor Domitian. Here he dictated the wild poetry of the Apocalypse, found in the book of Revelations, to his disciple Prochorus. Halfway up the road between Skála and the chora is the Church of the Apocalypse and the Cave of St Anne where St John transmitted the fiery words of God to his disciple - at least so legend says, as we have no real proof that St John did actually write the Apocalypse whilst on Pátmos.
For centuries the island was the home of Saracen pirates until 1088 when St Christodoulos was granted permission to establish a monastery in honour of St John. The continued presence of the pirates dictated the fortified walls surrounding the monastery. The monastery prospered and its library became one of the largest in Greece outside Mt Athos. Many of the manuscripts have since been dispersed (many of them to England), but the valuable Codex Porphyrius written on purple vellum in silver and gold, and some excellent Byzantine illuminations, remain. The Treasury has a number of valuable icons and stoles. Special arrangements have to be made to see items not on display.
Pátmos is the spiritual centre of the Greek Orthodox Church after Mt Athos. Near the Church of the Apocalypse stands the new theological college attended by students from all over Greece. At Easter celebrations are carried out with considerable pomp and later much gusto.
SKÁLA PÁTMOS
BA 1531
Imray-Tetra G32
Approach
Conspicuous In the approaches to Skála Patmos there are a number of rocks and islets which are easily identified by day. Pátmos chora and the fortress-like monastery on the crown of the hill S of Skâla Patmos are conspicuous from some distance off. Skála Patmos lies almost in the middle of the island at the lowest point. The white houses of Skála Pátmos are easy to see as you enter the bay. By night Use the light on Ak Ilias Fl(3)9s9M, Vrak Kavouronisia (Tragos Rock) Fl(2)WR.12s5/3M (red sector covers 087°-232° over the reef N of the islet), Ák Aspri Fl.WR.2s5/3M (red sector covers 272°-320° over Ifalos Khelia, Nisis Khelia and Skopeloi Sklavaki), and the light at Skála Pátmos Fl.R.l-5s3M. The Ε cardinal buoy to the N of the ferry quay is lit Q(3)7s.
Dangers
Mooring
Go stern or bows-to the quay in the NW corner of the bay. Stern-to is better as the meltemi gusts down across the quay from the NW. The bottom is sand, mud and weed, good holding.
Shelter Shelter from the meltemi is better than it looks on the plan. The bay is open SE and with moderate SE winds it is uncomfortable - with strong SE winds probably untenable.
Authorities Port police and customs
Anchorage Yachts can anchor near the head of the bay in 6-1 Om. Good shelter from the meltemi.
Facilities
Water Delivered by mini-tanker. Fuel Can be obtained from a station at the head of the bay. There is a jetty near the fuel station with 2-3m depths at its extremity. A mini-tanker will deliver to the quay at Skála Pátmos.
Repairs A slip at the head of the bay hauls out local caiques. Some mechanical repairs can be carried out at Skála Pátmos. Good general hardware shops.
Provisions Good shopping for provisions at Skâla.
Eating out Good tavernas on the waterfront.
Other PO. OTE. Bank. ATM. Greek gas and Camping Gaz. Hire motorbikes and bicycles. Bus to the monastery. Daily ferry to Piraeus and Rhodes and local ferry to Kos and Sámos.
General
Skála Pâtmos has largely grown up to meet the needs of cruise ships and the daily ferry and hydrofoils bringing people to see the monastery of St John. Most of the buildings around the harbour date from the Italian occupation and unlike many of the towns that grow up around a busy ferry port, Skála is a pleasant town in itself. Remember when visiting the monastery to dress appropriately - bikinis and even shorts are inappropriate.
Skála Pátmos looking NNW across to Órmos Mérikha on the other side of Pátmos Island Peter Kleinoth/MareTeam
OTHER ANCHORAGES NEAR SKALA PATMOS
ΒΑ 1531
Imray-Tetra G32
These anchorages near to Skâla are all protected from the meltemi although subject to gusts off the high land.
Pátmos belongs to the Christian age rather than to antiquity. St John the Divine was banished to Pátmos by the Emperor Domitian. Here he dictated the wild poetry of the Apocalypse, found in the book of Revelations, to his disciple Prochorus. Halfway up the road between Skála and the chora is the Church of the Apocalypse and the Cave of St Anne where St John transmitted the fiery words of God to his disciple - at least so legend says, as we have no real proof that St John did actually write the Apocalypse whilst on Pátmos.
For centuries the island was the home of Saracen pirates until 1088 when St Christodoulos was granted permission to establish a monastery in honour of St John. The continued presence of the pirates dictated the fortified walls surrounding the monastery. The monastery prospered and its library became one of the largest in Greece outside Mt Athos. Many of the manuscripts have since been dispersed (many of them to England), but the valuable Codex Porphyrius written on purple vellum in silver and gold, and some excellent Byzantine illuminations, remain. The Treasury has a number of valuable icons and stoles. Special arrangements have to be made to see items not on display.
Pátmos is the spiritual centre of the Greek Orthodox Church after Mt Athos. Near the Church of the Apocalypse stands the new theological college attended by students from all over Greece. At Easter celebrations are carried out with considerable pomp and later much gusto.
SKÁLA PÁTMOS
BA 1531
Imray-Tetra G32
Approach
Conspicuous In the approaches to Skála Patmos there are a number of rocks and islets which are easily identified by day. Pátmos chora and the fortress-like monastery on the crown of the hill S of Skâla Patmos are conspicuous from some distance off. Skála Patmos lies almost in the middle of the island at the lowest point. The white houses of Skála Pátmos are easy to see as you enter the bay. By night Use the light on Ak Ilias Fl(3)9s9M, Vrak Kavouronisia (Tragos Rock) Fl(2)WR.12s5/3M (red sector covers 087°-232° over the reef N of the islet), Ák Aspri Fl.WR.2s5/3M (red sector covers 272°-320° over Ifalos Khelia, Nisis Khelia and Skopeloi Sklavaki), and the light at Skála Pátmos Fl.R.l-5s3M. The Ε cardinal buoy to the N of the ferry quay is lit Q(3)7s.
Dangers
-
Care should be taken of the numerous reefs associated with the rocks
and islets in the approaches. Skopeloi Tragos lies 0-1 mile N of Vrak
Kavouronisia (Tragos Rock). Ifalos Khelia lies 0-6 miles S of Nisis
Khelia. Ifalos Sklavaki lies 0-2 miles SW of the more westerly of the
two Sklavaki islets.Note Ifalos Khelia is at the limit of the red
sector of Ák Aspri light.
- With the meltemi, strong gusts blow into the bay off the surrounding high land.
Mooring
Go stern or bows-to the quay in the NW corner of the bay. Stern-to is better as the meltemi gusts down across the quay from the NW. The bottom is sand, mud and weed, good holding.
Shelter Shelter from the meltemi is better than it looks on the plan. The bay is open SE and with moderate SE winds it is uncomfortable - with strong SE winds probably untenable.
Authorities Port police and customs
Anchorage Yachts can anchor near the head of the bay in 6-1 Om. Good shelter from the meltemi.
Facilities
Water Delivered by mini-tanker. Fuel Can be obtained from a station at the head of the bay. There is a jetty near the fuel station with 2-3m depths at its extremity. A mini-tanker will deliver to the quay at Skála Pátmos.
Repairs A slip at the head of the bay hauls out local caiques. Some mechanical repairs can be carried out at Skála Pátmos. Good general hardware shops.
Provisions Good shopping for provisions at Skâla.
Eating out Good tavernas on the waterfront.
Other PO. OTE. Bank. ATM. Greek gas and Camping Gaz. Hire motorbikes and bicycles. Bus to the monastery. Daily ferry to Piraeus and Rhodes and local ferry to Kos and Sámos.
General
Skála Pâtmos has largely grown up to meet the needs of cruise ships and the daily ferry and hydrofoils bringing people to see the monastery of St John. Most of the buildings around the harbour date from the Italian occupation and unlike many of the towns that grow up around a busy ferry port, Skála is a pleasant town in itself. Remember when visiting the monastery to dress appropriately - bikinis and even shorts are inappropriate.
Skála Pátmos looking NNW across to Órmos Mérikha on the other side of Pátmos Island Peter Kleinoth/MareTeam
OTHER ANCHORAGES NEAR SKALA PATMOS
ΒΑ 1531
Imray-Tetra G32
These anchorages near to Skâla are all protected from the meltemi although subject to gusts off the high land.
- Órmos Meloyi The first bay to the NE of Skâla Pâtmos. Anchor at the head of the bay in 5-7m. The bottom is sand and weed. Open to the SE. Taverna ashore.
- Órmos Livadhi Immediately Ν of Ormos Meloyi. An islet, Nisis Panayia, in the entrance to the bay is easily recognised. Anchor at the head of the bay in 4-6m. With the meltemi there are gusts into the bay. Open SE.
- Órmos Kambos Immediately NE of Livadhi. Anchor where convenient. Holding as for Meloyi, but open to the S as well as the SE. There are a number of villas around the bay, a taverna, and a shop where basic provisions can be obtained.
- Órmos Grikou Lies 2 miles to the SE of Skála. Anchor in 8-10m off the hamlet at the head of the bay. A jetty on the Ν side is reported to have 2m depths alongside. The bottom is thick weed -difficult to get through so make sure your anchor is well dug in. Open to the SE although Nisis Tragos provides some protection from this direction. Taverna ashore. Bus to Skála in the summer.
This is quatation from book Greek Waters Pilot by Heikell.
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