It is named after St John of Patmos, the author of the Christian Book of Revelation who, according to the text, lived on the island when visions of the apocalypse came to him.

[1] Religious ceremonies that date back to the early Christian period are still practiced within the monastery today.

Because of its sacred significance, uninterrupted architectural evolution, and the exceptional preservation of early Christian customs, the monastery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, along with the town of Chora and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse.

[1] In 1088, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos gave the island of Patmos to a monk, Christodoulos Latrinos.

[3] The floor is elaborately carved out of marble is opus sectile style, and has wall paintings and frescoes dating to the Middle Ages.