A description of the present state of Samos, Nicaria, Patmos, and Mount Athos by Joseph Georgirenes ... ; translated by one that knew the author in Constantinople.

A DESCRIPTION Of the ISLE of PATMOS.

THe Isle of Patmos, now call'd Patino, is 36 Miles in com∣pass, 40 Miles from the Continent of Asia, towards Ephesus; as many Miles distant from Samos North East of it; 30 from Nicaria, North; 60 from Paros, and Naxos, West; 60 from Amurgos, South.

The Figure is neither round nor square, but irregular, by reason of unequal Promontories and Bays. It is furnish'd with very commodi∣ous Havens, to which it owes its being inhabited, though not so well as in former times, as appears by the many and great Ruins in it.

This Island was eminent for those wonderful Revelations which the Blessed Apostle, and Evangelist St. John had in it, during his banish∣ment thither in the time of the Per∣secution under Domitian. The sub∣stance of what is related in that Life of St. John, that goes under the Name of Prochorus, is generally believ'd in Patmos to this day. And though the Author might be of later years than Prochorus, the Disci∣ple of St. John, as the most judi∣cious Historians of later days do pronounce him to be: Yet that the whole contents of that Book should be a meer Fable, and nothing but the Product of the Authors invention and fancy, is very impro∣bable. For though he might take great liberty in the Manner and Cir∣cumstance of what he relates, yet the Matter and Substance were built upon some foundations of real Truth, and such as many Books now not extant, and the Streams of Tradition then nearer the Foun∣tain, but now run dry, might ac∣quaint

him with. That the Island, at St. John's first coming were all Idolaters, had people possessed with Devils, and were mis-led with Ma∣gicians, is more than probable. That St. John's casting a Devil out of young Apollonides, had a great influence on the peoples Conversion, and rais'd him the Enmity of a Magician, and all that he could draw after him, is a thing reasona∣bly credible. The Name of Cynops the Magitian, is known to all the People to this day; yea, not with∣out some very improbable circum∣stances of the Story, that St. John should cause him to jump twice in∣to the Sea, and the second time to be turn'd into a Rock, which now bears his name. However it is no small credit to a Place, otherwise very inconsiderable, that that great Apostle, once the peculiarly belo∣ved Disciple; who of all the Apo∣stles, did alone survive our Savi∣ours judicial coming into his King∣dom of Power and Vengeance up∣on the Jewish Nation: that he

should be for no small time an In∣habitant of this Island, and there Pen that Mysterious and Sublime Book, which to him indeed was Apocalypse, but to all others Apo∣crypha, to him a Revelation, but to us yet an hidden Mystery: like the former Prophecies of the Old Testament, that were never right∣ly understood till actually fulfill'd. The Tradition of this Island is ve∣ry positive, that he writ his Gospel here likewise, and that upon the Request of the Islanders, who at his departure, after seven years abode in the Island, did importune him to leave them in writing what they ought to believe: Whereupon he staid eight days longer, to dictate the Gospel to his Disciples that writ it.

They add more, that as he was beginning the Work, there hap∣ned a great Thunder and Earth∣quake, whereupon, looking up to Heaven, he spake those words; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: In the beginning was the Word. Besides, it is a most

confirm'd Tradition, that the Ca∣vern, which now goes by the name of the Holy Grotto, was made by the Rupture of the Earth, in that Earthquake.

The Original of this Island, as it is at this day, is ascribed to St. Christodoulus, in the Days of Alexius Comnenus.

It was Alexius Comnenus, the first of that name, in whose dayes be∣gan the Holy War, who reigned the 20 last years of the tenth Cen∣tury, and the 18 first of the ele∣venth, and was contemporary with William the Conquerour, and God∣frey of Bulloigne. This Christodou∣lus was Abbot of Latros, and had jurisdiction over some 20 Monaste∣ries in Asia, near a great Lake about a days Journey and half from Ephesus. He being molested by the Turks, (whose power now mighti∣ly encreas'd in Asia) obtained leave of the Emperour to build a Mona∣stry in Patmos: Whither having transported his Wealth and Family, he built a Monastry near the Port

of Nestia, and named it Rouvali. But not liking the place, (and as the Tradition goes, being warned by a Vision, and a Voice from Hea∣ven,) he quitted that Monastry, and built another in the highest part of the Island, and fortifi'd it with a strong Castle, environ'd with high and strong Walls: And there he built a Church. The In∣habitants that lay scatter'd in the Isle, desired leave to build Huts neer the Monastry, for their better Shel∣ter, and defence, in case of any sudden Attaque by Pirats. In pro∣cess of time, these Huts were chang'd into fair Houses, and by Trade and Commerce, became a great Town, to the number of 800 Houses, and there Inhabited by rich Merchants, that traded in∣to all parts. But the many Revo∣lutions that have happen'd since, have eclips'd the former Glory of the place: And their Ships of Mer∣chandise are all dwindl'd into small Fisher Boats, and the Inhabitants are all extremely poor.

About half a mile from this place stands the Holy Grotto, where St. John the Evangelist is said to have writ the Apocalypse. Here is a small Monastry, under the Ju∣risdiction of a Caloir. The Inhabi∣tants of the neighbouring Borough, pay great Devotion to this place. They talk here of a Fig-Tree, whose Figs have naturally the Characters of the Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Apocalypsis. Near the Grotto is a stone Font, where St. John the Evangelist is said to have baptiz'd.

The best Port of this Island, and of all the Archipelago, on the West side towards Naxos, is call'd Scala, or the Wharf, because of a Wharf built of stone for the convenient lading or un-lading of Ships. That which renders it free from an∣noyance of Winds are certain lit∣tle Islands that shelter it from the East and North-east Winds. The Venetian Fleet were wont to winter here during the War of Candy.

Besides this Port, stands an entire Village, call'd Phocas, without an

Inhabitant. Here is likewise a∣mong old Ruins, a Church yet stan∣ding, which they say was built in St. John's days, and they shew some∣thing like a Pulpit, where they say St. John us'd to Preach. 2. Merike, whose neighbouring Hills are well stored with Vine-yards. 3. Leukes, fortify'd with a Ca∣stle for the Retreat of the Labou∣rers in the Vine-yards, and well supply'd with fresh Fish, from a neighbouring Lake. 4. Myrsini, from the growth of Myrtles hereabouts. Here is a Fountain of excellent Water, which the People call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hagiasma, or Holy-Well. 5. St. Nicholas, from a Church here dedicated to that Saint. 6. St. George's from a Church here dedicated to that Saint: This is a convenient place for Ships to take in fresh, Water at. Two Miles hence are the Ruins of an old Town call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Platys Gialos, or the Broad shore; but now it is co∣ver'd with the shrub Arbutus, which the Greeks call Coumara, in old

Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: it bears a Fruit like a Strawberry, but much bigger. 7. Turcolimnionos, or the Turks Port, because it is frequented by the Cor∣sairs. Betwixt this place and Port Scala, a rich Merchant Nicholas Ma∣thas did lately build a Tower at Livadi; it being a convenient place for Vine-yards and Fishing. 8. A∣grio Livadi, before which lies St. Thecla's Isle with a little Church, dedicated to that Saint. 9. Port Sapsila, before which lies a little Island, with a Church in it, de∣dicated to St. Luke. 10. Port Gri∣cou, next to Scala for commodious∣ness. The Island Tragonesi, or Isle of Goats, defends it from all Winds. 11. Diacopti, famous for Salt Pits, which belong to the Caloirs. Besides this Port, is a steep Rock of a very great height, which they call Cynops, from the Magician in St. John's days, whom the Peo∣ple report to have lodg'd in a great Cave in this Rock; which Cave they yet believe to be haunted by Devils. For once letting down a

Man into't by a Cord for curiosity▪ to see what was in the Cave, they pull'd him up dead. 12. Meloi, a Mile from Port Scala. And so we have finish'd the Circuit of the Island, in naming the Ports.

The Inland Villages are 1. Livadi. 2. Vagie, well beset with Vines and Figtrees. 3. Megalocampos, rich in the same Fruits, and accom∣modated with a Lake well stor'd with Fish. 4. Hagio Theophanes, from a Church there dedicated to that Saint, and built by St. Chri∣stodoulos. 5. Sazousa, close by the Sea, near to which are hot Springs of Water, that cure many Disea∣ses. The Island is well stored with Vines, Figg-Trees, Lemon and Orange Trees, and Corn sufficient for the Inhabitants, if they could keep what they have free from the Robbery of Pirats, as well Chri∣stian as Mahometan, that often pil∣lage the poor People, who have no other remedy but patience, and sometimes the pleasure of seeing them perish at Sea, that have been

so injurious to a Shore. The Pat∣mians complain more of the Cru∣elty of the Christian Pirats, than of the Turks. And though the Islanders have procur'd Charters and Patents from the Pope; the King of France; from the State of Venice; from the Dukes of Tuscany; from the Grand Master of Maltha, to secure them from the Injuries of Christian Corsairs; it is so far from prevailing upon them to withhold their hands from rapine, that it does but provoke them to more fierceness. Yet these Pirats some∣times are made the visible objects of Divine Vengeance. About six years ago, the Marquess de Fleury, that carry'd away not only the Gra∣zing, but the Working Cattle▪ had got no further than Paros, 'till his Ship sunk in the Port, and he was taken Prisoner, and clapt into custody at Corfou, by the Venetians, Another that pillag'd the Monastry of Liptos, had no sooner put to Sea, but meeting with some Saiks, to which he gave earnest Chase, he

run himself a Ground, and there perish'd he, and all his Company.

Let us now return to the State and Government of the Place. The whole Island was given by (a) Alexius Comnenus to Christodoulus, and his successours in the Monastry, and the Islands near about, that were not inhabited. And what Culture they bestow on the little Islands, or what Cattle they put to Grazing there, becomes all a Prey to the Corsairs; so that the Revenues of this Monastry are now much di∣minish'd, and the Monks become extremely poor. And his Son Calo Johannes, gave also fourteen Villages in Candie: But the Turks left them but one small Hospital in Candie, which yields them 200 Dollars a Year, whereas their Revenues be∣fore were at least 13000. Besides the great Monastry, there is a little Nunnery, containing 40 Nuns. This was built but an age ago. They purchase their living by their labour, for they have no Revenues; only the Abbot of the great Mona∣stry

is oblig'd to supply them with a Reverend Ancient Monk, to do all Sacred Offices among them. Besides these, there are some small Hermitages that maintain some few Monks. 1. The Hermitage of the Holy Grotto of St. John the Divine. 2. The Hermitage of the Parasceve. 3. Of the Annun∣tiation of the Blessed Virgin, late∣ly built by a Bishop in this last Cen∣tury. 4. The Hermitage, called Asomati. Lastly, in a place called the Gardens, which furnish the Monks Kitchin with all necessaries. They have certain Chappels con∣secrated for the Labourers, at cer∣tain Hours, to hear Prayers, and so return to their Work.

And this is the present Condition of the Isle of Patmos, once famous for the Residence of that great Apo∣stle St. John, and for the great and mysterious Revelation he had in it. But now groaning under the Yoke of such Lords as are common ene∣mies to the Christian Faith, by whom they are both kept in great

awe, and slavish obedience, and yet ill protected against the violent Incursion of Pirats and Robbers: so that Poverty is their best Pro∣tection against Rapine, and Pa∣tience the only Remedy against the grievous Yoak of Tyrannical Op∣pression.

Notes

• Circiter annum Christi 1100.