| About
Kefalonia
Kefalonia is a large (728 km2 - about 30.000
people), mountainous Ionian island, with a
varied landscape, beautiful forests, magnificent
views and an interesting wildlife (a.o. Monk
Seal). In summer there can be quite some tourists
on the island, visiting the beaches, but they
are easy to escape.
From the mainland you can get
there by aeroplane from Athens, Zakynthos
or Corfu or by boat from Patras, Aitoloakarnania,
Kilini and some Italian harbours. Also by
boat you can reach the neighbouring islands
of Corfu, Ithaki,
Lefkada, Poros
and Zakynthos.
Kefallonia, or Kefalonia,
is the largest of the Ionians, the string
of islands to the west of mainland Greece.
It is a green island with many trees and flowers.
In the spring the hills and fields are alive
in a variety of wildflowers. The island has
27,000 inhabitants; many are farmers and fishermen.
Near the villages of Frangata
and Valsamata lies the most sacred monastery
and church of St Gerasimos where his relics
of this saint are kept. On any given day,
you will see pilgrims make the journey to
the church to venerate St Gerasimos’
body to heal their illnesses. It’s an
impressive sight to see. Under the monastery
lies a two-room cave he built. He used to
live, sleep and pray there.
To go from one room to the
next, one must crawl through an approximately
15-inch square hole. It is said that all true
believers (large or small) can fit through
trough this hole. St. Gerasimos is a healer
for the possessed and mentally disturbed.
Many believe that he performs miracles on
the day of his death on August 16th and on
the 20th of October (which is the removal
and granting of the Holy Relics). His body
is carried in a procession out of the chapel
to an old plane tree which was planted by
the saint himself.
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