Our Venerable Father Gerasimos of Kefalonia, the New Ascetic and Wonderworker
1509–1579 (some sources give the year of repose as 1570)
Ascetic patron of Kefalonia, invoked over those afflicted in mind.
Saint Gerasimos of Kefalonia (1509–1579) was a Greek ascetic and monastic founder of the post-Byzantine era, venerated as the patron saint and protector of the island of Cephalonia. Born in the village of Trikala in Corinth in the Peloponnese, he undertook a long pilgrimage through the major centers of Eastern Christian monasticism before settling on Cephalonia, where he restored an old church and established a convent at Omala that still stands.
He is remembered above all for his ascetic life and for the incorrupt relics preserved in his monastery, which by tradition emit a heavenly fragrance and are associated with many miracles. He is commemorated on October 20 (the translation of his relics) and on August 16, near the day of his repose. He is especially invoked on behalf of those afflicted in mind.
Gerasimos was born in 1509 in the village of Trikala in Corinth, in the Peloponnese. His parents were named Demetrios and Kale.
By tradition he descended from the Notaras family, a well-known Byzantine family of the period of Constantine Palaiologos. His grandfather is said to have been a brother of Lukas Notaras, the last Megas Doux (Grand Duke) of Constantinople.
As a young man Gerasimos visited Constantinople, where, according to his life, witnessing the martyrdom of Christians moved him toward the monastic vocation. He then spent roughly five years on Mount Athos, where he was tonsured a schemamonk and studied under the ascetics of the Holy Mountain. (An OCA account places his early monastic life on the island of Zakynthos before his time on Athos.)
His pilgrimage carried him across the Christian East: he resided in Jerusalem for about twelve years, visited Mount Sinai and Egypt, lived for some two years in a cave on Crete, and spent roughly five years in a cave on Zakynthos.
Around the age of fifty he came to Cephalonia and settled in a cave on the island.
On Cephalonia, Gerasimos restored an old church and built a convent around it at Omala, near the village of Fragata at the foot of Mount Ainos. The community he established still stands.
By tradition the priest George Valsamos granted monastery lands to the saint, and the religious community was established around 1560. The new house was raised over an older monastery dating to roughly 1200, the era of the Crusades. It was dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and was called 'New Jerusalem' by the villagers of Valsamata.
Tradition relates that the saint planted three plane trees and dug three wells with his own hands; both are said to be preserved on the monastery grounds.
Saint Gerasimos reposed on August 15, in either 1570 or 1579 (the sources differ). His relics are kept whole and incorrupt in the monastery, held in a silver urn; the shrine also preserves the saint's shroud. By tradition the relics distill a heavenly fragrance.
A hermitage open to pilgrims contains an underground chamber reached by a narrow iron staircase. The Saint Gerasimos Monastery on Cephalonia remains an active place of pilgrimage.
Saint Gerasimos was formally recognized as a saint in 1622. He is venerated as the patron saint of the island of Cephalonia and the protector of all its inhabitants.
He is counted among the influential ascetics of Cephalonia alongside Saint Anthimos, and is described as having helped shape the character of later Cephalonian saints such as Saint Panagis Basias.
Traditional Accounts: The incorrupt relics of the saint are by tradition associated with many miracles and are said to emit a heavenly fragrance. He is especially invoked on behalf of those afflicted in mind. Tradition also preserves the three plane trees and three wells said to have been made by the saint's own hands at the monastery.
Incorrupt relics on the island.