Rhodes
Population: 115,490 (2011)
ISLAND OVERVIEW
Rhodes is located close to the Turkish coast and is the largest island of the Dodecanese at 1,398 square km.
The interior of the island is mountainous, sparsely inhabited and covered with forests of pine.
Rhodes Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. In normal times, around 2 million tourists visit the island every year, and there are over 550 hotels.
Around half of the inhabitants live in the capital city of Rhodes, and the majority are engaged in tourism, while a few are occupied with farming, raising livestock and small industries such as traditional carpet making and pottery.
Rhodes’ nickname is The Island of the Knights, after the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. The actual name, Rhodes, comes from the ancient Greek Rhódon (rose) which is why sometimes it is also called the island of roses.
There is one international airport, Diagoras International which has transformed tourism and in turn the economy of the island.
The Island & Its History
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The island was first settled in the 16th century BC by Cretans.
In the 1st century AD, the Apostle Paul arrived on the island to preach Christianity.
In 297 AD the Byzantine era starts with numerous attacks from the Arabs and the Crusaders. In 1309, the island enters a new period of stability and prosperity after its conquest by the Knights of Saint John’s Order.
Eventually, in 1522, the knights moved their operations base to Malta, and Rhodes became part of the Ottoman Empire.
In 1912 the Italians occupied the island until it was re-united with Greece in 1948.
Prayer Points
- The people on the island will realize their need for God and their eyes will be opened to the truth and love of God through reading the Bible for themselves.
- The Lord will work in the lives of all the God-fearing religious people already living on this island, and bring healing & refreshment to their lives.
ADOPT THIS ISLAND
If you are committed to praying for this island and its region, please drop us a note, we would love to know about it and keep you posted with prayer updates!
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