KEFALONIA TRAVEL GUIDE

KEFALONIA > CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

The church of Virgin Mary of Lagouvarda

The church of Virgin Mary of Lagouvarda in Markopoulo is built where an old convent used to be. The convent was built where the icon of Virgin Mary was found after a huge forest fire.

According to tradition, many years ago, the nuns of this convent when the Turks threatened them, prayed to Virgin Mary for help. As a miracle snakes appeared from nowhere scaring the Turks. The nuns were saved and from that date, every year on the 6th- 16th of August these little harmless snakes emerge from the rocks of the church’s bell tower.

The Cathedral of Kefalonia

The Cathedral of Kefalonia was built in 1957 at Vergoti Avenue in Argostoli. Before the 1953's earthquakes it was located in Lithostroto str. at Sotiros church. Its chancel screen comes from the old church of the Holy Virgin of Fousato and many icons were made by the great artist Theodore Poulakis.

The monastery of Virgin Mary of Sissia

The monastery of Virgin Mary of Sissia is situated at Lourdas Bay.

It is said that it was founded by St. Francesco d’ Assisi in the 13th century. It used to be a very rich monastery and many important monks lived there, like Gerasimos Kokkinos or Stroumboulos. Among other icons found in the church was “Virgin Mary of Akathistos Ymnos”.