The Feast Day of Saint Gerasimos of Kefalonia: A Day of devotion at the Holy Monastery in Omala

With deep religious devotion, the Feast of Saint Gerasimos the New Ascetic was celebrated this year at the Holy Monastery bearing his name in Omala, Kefalonia.

Amidst a continuous stream of the faithful and a genuine atmosphere of devotion, the Great Vespers was celebrated on 15 August 2024, at the Church of Saint Gerasimos in Omala, marking the Feast of the Dormition of the Patron Saint of Kefalonia.

The Vespers service was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa and Tyrnavos, with the assistance of His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete, His Eminence Metropolitan Nestor of Tarnopol from the war-torn Ukraine, and His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Kefalonia.

Numerous faithful gathered at the Monastery of Omala to honour their patron saint, whom they reverently refer to as their “precious treasure.” During these days, the holy monastery of Saint Gerasimos serves as a focal point for Kefallonians everywhere, as reported by ekefalonia.gr.

After the artoklasia (blessing of the five loaves), His Eminence Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa delivered an address in which he reflected on the life and legacy of Saint Gerasimos. He highlighted the saint’s profound spiritual struggles, his deep knowledge of God, and his significant contributions to Kefalonia and the Orthodox Church. The Metropolitan emphasised that for the people of Kefalonia, the holy and incorrupt relic of Saint Gerasimos is indeed their “precious treasure.”

In conclusion, he urged the faithful to emulate the saint’s virtues and to follow in his footsteps, so that they too might be worthy of the joy of Paradise.

On Friday, 16 August 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Evgenios of Crete presided over the feast day Divine Liturgy, accompanied by Metropolitans Ieronymos of Larissa and Tyrnavos, Nestor of Tarnopol from the war-torn Ukraine, and Dimitrios of Kefalonia.

In his inspiring address, Archbishop Evgenios highlighted the enduring bonds between Crete and Kefalonia that have existed since ancient times. He praised the virtuous life of Saint Gerasimos, as reported by ekefalonia.gr, which elevated him to become a revered Saint not only in Greece but also across the entire world, emphasising that his life serves as a powerful example for all of us.

Archbishop Evgenios also spoke movingly about Saint Gerasimos’s time in Crete before he eventually settled on the sacred island of Kefalonia. In closing, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Metropolitan of Kefalonia for the warm invitation and generous hospitality.

The entire political leadership of the country, along with the heads of the armed forces, were in attendance. Following the service, a solemn procession of Saint Gerasimos’s coffin took place, passing over a crowd of believers who, seated on the ground, formed a human chain in a heartfelt plea for the Saint’s intercession.

Throughout the night, thousands of the faithful came to reverently venerate the incorruptible body of Saint Gerasimos. As is tradition, the Holy Procession extended to the tree that Saint Gerasimos himself planted and to the well he dug, marking this year’s observance with deep spiritual significance.