Patmos is proud of its long, rich history. On this small Greek island, people are passionate about their customs and traditions, whether religious or cultural, as evidenced by the many festivals and feasts. Once you’ve checked in at your Patmos hotel, ask someone about local festivities happening during your stay. Whether you come to Patmos for food, culture, music, or religious pilgrimage, you’ll find colorful festivals that are just what you need to make your trip special.
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| The entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse |
Dormition of the Virgin
August 15th is the day of the Dormition of the Virgin, which celebrates the “sleeping” of the Mother of God and her resurrection. In Patmos, the Dormition of the Virgin is enthusiastically celebrated with a large annual feast at the Monastery of Panagia Geranou. Live music, dancing, and of course, copious amounts of food, commemorates the day. You can also find events and celebrations in Skala, Kambos, and Chora.
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| The Monastery of St. John |
The Feast of St. John
If you missed the Feast of St. John on May 8th, make sure you catch it on September 26th. St. John is perhaps Patmos’s claim to fame. It was the isle of Patmos to which he was exiled and it was on the isle of Patmos that his Revelation was revealed to him. You can visit the Monastery of St. John while you’re here or the Cave of the Apocalypse to celebrate the resurrection of St. John with the rest of Patmos, and it would make a great addition to your religious pilgrimage.
The International Film Festival of Patmos
As is often the case, out of one of the worst economic crises Greece has ever seen rose the creative minds to create the International Film Festival of Patmos. 46 days of cinema, 345 films in total. Because the festival has gone over so well, the creators have decided to expand to the surrounding Aegean islands, but you can still see new, exclusive films every weekend in July in Patmos.
Festival of Folklore Dances
You can learn a lot about a culture from its dances. Preserving the historic culture of Patmos is very important to those who live there, and it’s enthusiastically celebrated through their festival of folklore dances. In this festival, all the dancers wear traditional dress that they might have worn in the early days and perform traditional, sometimes ancient Greek dances that existed long before anyone in the audience and will continue long after.
Festival of the Sacred Music of Patmos
Held in an outdoor theatre outside the Cave of the Apocalypse, this festival is famous all throughout Greece. There are 5 days of music from August 27 through September 1, highlighting songs touch on religious significance as well as cultural significance to Patmos. Some are traditional songs dealing with immigration and refugees, a timelessly relevant topic. The festival is free and makes a great end note to your trip to the Cave of the Apocalypse.
When searching for Patmos hotels so you can attend these festivals, consider Chris Hotel in Patmos, Greece. Chris Hotel is located in Skala, the main port of Patmos, close to all the shops and grocery stores, and near the bus line. The staff is committed to exceptional customer service. When you check in, just ask one of the hotel staff about festivals going on at the time and where to find them.
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