This Latin certainly enjoyed Dvini’s singing! BTW, I just got back from a little Mediterrain vacation and visited Patmos and Santorini. Was interesting seeing the Byzantine flag still flying over St John’s grotto. Got to see some very beautiful Orthodox churches in both locations. I hope to post some more in a few days (went to Holy Land too).
The reason you saw that flag flying over the monastery is because it is a “monastic republic” under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch. It is called officially the “Holy Royal Patriarchal Stavropegic and Coenobiac Monastery of St John the Evangelist and Theologian”.
The island and its dependencies are a Patriarchial Eparchy headed by the abbot of the monastery.
Did you pick up any pumice on the beaches at Santorini and did you notice how the grape vines grow out there?