St. Gerasimos Monastery Kefalonia

The imposing St. Gerasimos Monastery, patron of tKefalonia Island, is located on the Omala plateau in the southwestern part at an altitude of four hundred meters near the villages of Fragata and Valsamata.

To be able to reach it, you have to cross a garden with forty old wells and at the end of the road hidden among majestic trees and after a large portico with the bell tower, you arrive at the magnificent church all of pink brick and Byzantine architecture.

An important pilgrimage destination not only for the inhabitants of Kefalonia but for all the Greek faithful, it keeps the remains of the beloved monk in a double silver urn in the chapel which are venerated by believers when they are periodically made available to all to allow pilgrims to kiss them and address their prayers and supplications. It is possible to see them five times a year and precisely on 16 and 23 August, 20 and 26 October and the second Sunday of Easter dedicated to St. Thomas the Saint who did not believe in the appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his death.

St. Gerasimos Notaras was born in 1506 in Trikala in the Peloponnese, he came from a very powerful and aristocratic family and became a monk on the sacred mountain of Mount Athos. He spent twelve years in Jerusalem and five in Zakynthos until he moved to Kefalonia in 1555. The first five years he lived in a cave in complete solitude taking care of the needy, which is still today and can be visited under the Monastery together with the chapel consisting of two rooms. In 1560 he founded the convent church of nuns calling it New Jerusalem.

With the powerful earthquake of 1953, the monastery was almost razed to the ground but slowly it was rebuilt again in the Byzantine style but with a small chapel and a much larger church. Inside, all of marble, there is the majestic throne of the bishop, precious walls decorated in Byzantine style and the ceiling with representations of the Old Testament such as the Ascent of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Miracle of the Pentecost, the descent of Christ into hell, baptism, the birth of Christ and the Annunciation. A fresco of inestimable value is the representation of the death of St. Gerasimos which depicts Christ near his deathbed holding his soul represented by a newborn in his arms.

The Saint died in 1579 and his canonization took place in 1622 by the Universal Patriarchate.

San Gerasimos is known for his extraordinary and miraculous ability to heal those suffering from mental illness and even today those who unfortunately suffer from such problems turn to him for help.

It is said that in the year of the earthquake it appeared several times to the population to comfort and support the people injured during the earthquake.It is celebrated with two very famous and heartfelt celebrations which are held on August 16, the day that commemorates his death, and on October 20, the date on which his remains were transferred to the Monastery where they are in our times. An exciting procession where the relics are transferred under the large plane tree in the courtyard that seems to have been planted by the Saint, in which important figures of the Orthodox religion also take part. It all ends with a great feast based on hearty food with local specialties, abundant wine, all accompanied by traditional music and dancing.

You must have your own vehicle and taking Argostoli as a reference, go south passing the Koutavos lagoon, turn right and follow the road signs.

A very pleasant trip to do and if you manage with your schedule during your holiday in Greece, put it as one of the things to see in Kefalonia, you will take home a little piece of history and tradition. Better still if you are on the island during the celebrations where everyone can participate.