Pátmos, Greece
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter . . .
—Bible, Revelation 1:19
When Roman emperor Domitian exiled Saint John the Divine in A.D. 95 to Pátmos, an arid Greek island sandwiched between Fourni, Leros, and Ikaria in the Dodecanese chain, the saint took refuge in a cave on a rocky hill and began to dictate his astonishing dreams and apocalyptic visions to his disciple Prohoros. The cave became the Cave of the Apocalypse and the words became the Revelation of Saint John the Divine, the last book of the New Testament.
Whether you desire a rejuvenation of your spiritual life or a total spiritual transformation, come to Pátmos and sit in the cave. Take a hydrofoil plane from the airports on Samos, Kos, or Leros or catch the ferry from Piraeus—a nine- to ten-hour trip to Pátmos. It is possible to take the ferry from other islands of the eastern Aegean or Dodecanese chains. Reach the cave on foot from Skala (a bit of walk), catch one of the buses that follow regular routes through the villages, or drive your rental car.
Sit on a bench inside the cave, close your eyes, and open your heart. Let the energy of this holy place transform you, rejuvenating your spirit and filling your heart with Divine love.
Guides will tell you about what to see in the cave: icons, rock formations, niches, droplets of ancient water sealed inside volcanic rock. However, tourists and pilgrims are welcome to sit, pray, and meditate.