St. Gerasimos - Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimos (Saint of Cephalonia)

If you visit Cephalonia, don't be surprised to find Gerry/Makis as a popular local name. It is short for Gerasimos, the Patron Saint of Cephalonia.

Gerasimos was born in Trikala, Korinthia in 1506 if tradition is to be believed, Saint Gerasimos enjoyed a good education as every upper-class boy of that time. At the age of twenty he travelled to the island of Zakynthos. Zakynthos or Zante was an important centre of culture at this time. Despite its Venetian occupation, there was a renascence atmosphere. This was in stark contrast to the condition prevailing over the remainder of Greece which was being conquered by the Turks. 

During his time in Zante, Saint Gerasimos lived in a cave at Saint Nikolas It is still known today as 'the cave of Saint Gerasimos'. Venetian occupation made practicing religion difficult as the Catholic Church was making attempts to convert the local population. For this reason, Saint Gerasimos decided to visit Cephalonia. Once again he lived as a hermit in a cave near Argostoli . There he lived for 5 years and 11 months before settling near Omali at the foot of Mount Ainos where he founded a monastery. He proved very popular here and a chapel in the area devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin was, together with the surrounding fields , granted to Saint Gerasimos in 1561. He founded a monastery there named 'New Jerusalem' and received the permission and blessings of the bishop of the island Pahomios Makris. Since then his fame spread all over the Christian world and continued well after Saint Gerasimos died on the 15th of August. This was the same day as his beloved Assumption of the Virgin. The name-day celebration of the Saint that was enacted, was that of the 20th of October and the 16th of August instead of 15th of August so as the day of the Assumption of the Virgin not to be shadowed. The nomination of the saintliness of Gerasimos was made official in 1622.

His favourite saying was 'Children be peaceful with yourselves and don't think high' he was known as a teacher, a healer and a water diviner. He sought peace by living in a cave and worked for his fellow man establishing many wells in the area of the Monastery. The islanders soon started to call their children Gerasimos (Makis for short) in honour of this lovely man and his remains are still cherished with pilgrims flocking from all over Greece to see them

The Old St Gerasimos Monastery

Today the Saint's relics are kept in a glass relic-case within a magnificent silver sarcophagus which is placed above the Saint's tomb. The small church of Saint Gerasimos has been built above the tomb and the cave where he lived. This hermitage can be reached by climbing down a 3 metre high ladder. The Saint planted some plane trees which are still preserved in the Monastery as well as the three large wells and 37 smaller ones he opened and the threshing fields that he worked to bring in funds for the Monastery. A new and very magnificent church of the Saint was completed in 1992 and is also within the Monastery grounds.

There are 5 feast days but the main ones are on 16th August and 20th October when the Saint's remains are brought out and carried in procession to the plane trees. Solemn vigil Holy Mass is performed in the Monastery from 03.00 to 07.00 a.m. You can visit the Monastery daily from 04.00 to 13.00 and from 17.00 to 21.00.

You can get a fantastic view of the monastery of Saint Gerasimos on the way to Ainos along the Poros to Sami road. There is space at the top of the hill to pull your car over and see the view of the valley below with the sprawling monastery with its red ceramic tiled roof.



The Front of St Gerasimos Monastery on Saint Gerasimos Day

The Entrance to St Gerasimos Cave by ladder



The Ornate Décor inside the original St Gerasimos Church