Tomb of the Theologian

Saint John the Evangelist lived to be almost 100, even after being exiled to the island of Patmos for many years. When he died, his tomb quickly became one of the most visited sites in the early Christian world. By the 300's, pilgrims were coming from all over Asia Minor--and Europe--to visit his hilltop grave.

The Emperor Justinian built a much larger basilica after the previous church was damaged by earthquakes, making Saint John's tomb one of the largest churches in the world at the time.

Climbing the hill today, there was a breeze blowing in off the coast.









Site of John's tomb.




Saint Timothy is also buried on the hillside, just south of St. John's Church: