Celebrating 16 Years of the Glastonbury–Patmos Twinning

On Sunday 21st September, the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury marked the 16th Anniversary of the perpetual twinning of Glastonbury with the holy island of Patmos.

During Mass, a 7-day candle was lit on the altar of the Lady Chapel, placed beneath the Karoussos Icons — a prayerful sign of the spiritual bond between our two sacred places. The Icons, gifted in 2018 by the Karoussos Foundation, depict the Virgin Mary, Christ the Life-Giver, and St John the Theologian with his disciple Prochorus, and are a constant reminder of the deep Christian heritage shared by Glastonbury and Patmos.

This twinning unites two holy places forever:

• Patmos, where St John the Apostle received his Revelation and wrote the final book of Scripture.

• Glastonbury, where tradition holds that St Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Christ, first brought the Gospel to our land.

We give thanks for this sacred link, which honours our shared roots in the earliest days of Christianity and invites us to walk together in faith, hope, and unity.

May the light of this candle continue to shine as a symbol of friendship, prayer, and blessing for both our communities.