The Monastery of St. Gerasimos is a sacred and historic site located on the Omala plateau in southern Kefalonia Island, near the villages of Valsamata and Fragata. The monastery is dedicated to St. Gerasimos, the patron saint of Kefalonia, whose body is kept inside in a silver casket. These relics are a pilgrimage destination for many of the island’s inhabitants and the Greek faithful.St. Gerasimos founded the monastery in the mid-16th century, first building a small cave where he slept and then a convent church above it. Today it is still possible to visit the cave, which has two accessible rooms, and the chapel that houses the saint’s body.After its foundation, the monastery grew but collapsed during an earthquake in 1953. It was later rebuilt following the Byzantine style and today features a small chapel and a new, large, richly decorated church. The interior features Byzantine-style frescoes depicting scenes from the Old Testament, such as the birth of Christ and the Last Supper.Saint Gerasimus died in 1579 and was canonized in 1622. He was famous for his miraculous abilities to cure mental illness, and even today many suffering people turn to him for help. The monastery celebrates two important feasts each year: on August 16, to commemorate the death of St. Gerasimus, and on October 20, to celebrate the transfer of his relics to the monastery. On these occasions, there is a large procession and feast with music, dancing, food and wine involving political and religious authorities, residents of Kefalonia and tourists.
