When Saint Porphyrios Visited the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva narrated the following experience he had when he visited the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos, where Saint John the Theologian received the divine revelation that is recorded in the Book of Revelation:

We once went on a pilgrimage together with Mr. George and Mrs. Kaiti to Saint John the Theologian in Patmos. It was morning. I felt that the grace of Saint John was suffocating me. The Cave of the Apocalypse was crowded. I was afraid of betraying my feelings. If I let myself manifest, I would be taken for a madman. I restrained myself. I went out of the church. It is not good for others to see the experiences of secret contact with God. That's why I told them and we left. The afternoon of the same day it was quiet there. It was the three of us. There was no one else in the church. Before we entered I prepared them. I said to them:

"No matter what you see, you will not move or speak."

A Byzantine Interpretation of the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar

Image of the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar, with an inscribed stone smashing the feet of the statue that says "Logos", which refers to the coming of Christ.

 

The Book of Daniel is an eschatological text (some believe it to be a 2nd century Hellenistic text) that contains the well-known dream of King Nebuchadnezzar with the statue of which each part is made of a different metal and symbolizes/prophesies five kingdoms or periods of rule.

The value of the metal gradually decreases from the first to the fifth Kingdom. The head of Gold (Babylon), body of Silver (Persians), thighs of Bronze (Hellenic civilization), which presumably means the legs of iron is Roman Civilization.

Regarding the fifth Kingdom, which are the feet of the statue and are made of a fragile mixture of iron and clay, opinions differ.