Scriptorium Work Week on Patmos

{ my Patmos home-away-from-home office overlooking Prophet Elijah’s hilltop church }

Ancient Greek grammar has never really been my thing, but I’ve been getting to know the dreaded ‘Iota Subscript’ quite intimately lately. Now we’re friends.

My twice-yearly trips to Patmos have been to lead Pilgrimages and to teach Scriptorium book arts workshops. The Pilgrimages focus on contemplative prayer, while enjoying savory Mediterranean treats along the way, like a swim in the Aegean … a platter of little fried sardines … a hike down the ancient stone path to the Cave of the Apocalypse.

The handmade Gospel of John the Beloved from the modern Scriptorium of the Tree of Life is a separate project I’ve been working on for years, with a small team at the Gardens of Discovery Eco-Spiritual Centre on Patmos.

This past week, I’ve entered new level of editing the Greek text in this handmade book, with parallel Greek and English text, side by side … page by page.

This will be a handbound edition of something rare and extraordinary in the world, God willing.

I attended the International CODEX Book Art Fair & Symposium earlier this year in California … a sea of intricately handmade editioned books. A marvel to behold! Illuminating.

Compared to the other three Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John is a love story. It begins … “Eν ἀρχῇó ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This ‘Word’ is mysterious and inspiring. Especially for us writers. Maybe we are participating in the reality of God with our words. Or maybe we are not.

Why did Saint John the Beloved choose to call Christ ‘The Word’? Here on Patmos, the Cave of the Apocalypse is the centre of the universe. It’s the Cave where Saint John is said to have written the Book of Revelation, instructed by the Holy Spirit, whispering through the triune crack in the massive rock that is the ceiling of this holy, potent little Church.

Prochorus was Saint John’s scribe. He wrote down the ‘words’, dictated by John, who listened to the Holy Spirit. John was considered an elegant writer of these ‘words’. An elusive concept, to try to understand Christ as the ‘Word’.

It’s not easy to get to Patmos. An 8-hour ferry ride from Athens/Piraeus, and the ferries don’t go every day. When they do, they either arrive after midnight, or after 2 am. Thank God for taxis! Those guys always show up, and they have the best insights into life on the island, once you get to know them.

I’ve been coming here twice a year since 2023. It feeds my soul, in spite of the long hours of meetings and endless work for the Centre, which Bishop Kallistos helped support, and his friend, Ioanna, has been building for 20 years.

As I listen to the Holy nudge, I return again and again. A blessing, in so many ways, to use the gifts and experience God has placed into my life, in these ways.

I spent Sunday, my day off, on Leros, a 45-minute catamaran ride away. I go there often, to venerate Saint Gavrilia, and spend time with her spiritual daughter, my friend, the amazing Aspasia. We went to Saint Gavrilia’s Castle Church, we hung out at her traditional Greek home, ate yummy pizza, and she taught me the Jesus Prayer in Greek. I’ve been practicing! And you can too, here, with Aspasia’s voice memo:

Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ἐλέησόν με.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Drop me a line, or stay tuned, if you are interested in following our progress on the ‘Gospel of John the Beloved’. Truly, a work of heart.

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Q: What is a recent ‘work of heart’ in your life?

Spark: Memorize the Jesus Prayer in Greek, with Aspasia.

Resources: Listen to the penetrating Gospel of Saint John the Beloved, with Sir David Suchet: