St. Gerassimos corpse is lying intact in a silver reliquary in the cathedral. Underneath there is the monk's cave with access by a small chamber and a medium sized hole, from which one has to crawl to the main chamber. Here, two peculiar things happen. First, the mud, found in all caves, NEVER stains the crawling visitors, even if they are dressed in white. Second, while the hole is of medium size, everyone fits, irrespective of size. The faithful attribute these two phenomena as wonders of the Saint. Every year, on August 16th (the date of the Saint's death) and on October 20th (celebration of his removal from the grave), a litany takes place, where the reliquary is transferred from the cathedral up to a plane tree that was planted by the Saint himself.
St. Andreas Convent
in Peratata village was entirely ruined by the 1953 earthquake.
The church has been rebuilt and today it operates as a museum.
During the earthquake, several wall frescoes were revealed,
due to the detachment of the cement plastering.
Among the numerous treasures of the church
like icons and vestments, the most precious of all is the foot of St. Andreas, preserved in a glass reliquary.
Atros Virgin Mary Monastery is located on the top of a triangular hill, at an altitude of 500m. on Mt. Atros. To reach it, one has to take the northwest road, on the way out from Poros, and continue the course for about 3 klm. The climb offers magnificent "aerial" views of Poros and its harbor. The monastery is the oldest in Cephalonia.
Sissia Monastery
Sissia's Virgin Mary Monastery is another very important monastery, located at the east end of Lourdas Bay, after Lourdata village. According to history, in 13th c., St. Francis of Assissi founded the monastery, which later collapsed by the 1953 earthquakes. Today, visitors have the chance to admire the Virgin Mary icon, a work by the Cretan painter Tsagarolas.
Kipouria Monastery is located at the western side of the island overhanging a cliff that crashes into the Ionian. The landscape can only be described as breathtaking with Cephalonia's most spectacular sunset.. In previous years, several monks lived in the convent but unfortunately today only one is left. A very interesting point in the monastery's history is that during the German occupation, the icon-screen of Virgin Mary's temple was transferred intact to Kipouria from the small church in Vardiani island, so that it would be saved from the disastrous fire. If you visit the monastery be sure to let Father Eusevios give you the tour as he untiredly does for hundreds of visitors during the day.
Other worth-visiting monasteries and churches:
Monastery of Themata Virgin Mary, near St. Efimia
Monastery of Agrilia, on the outskirts of Sami.
St. Fanentes Convent, on the outskirts of Sami.
Monastery of Virgin Mary Platytera, near Fiscardo.
St. Barbara Church, just outside Argostoli.
St. Nicholas Miniaton Church, at Lixouri.
Monastery of Lepeda, at Lixouri.
Russian Church of Resurrection, at Antypata village.
Palaioherssou Convent, at Magano.
Virgin Mary of Kougiana, at Vari.
Temple of Iperagias Theotokou, at Kalligata village.
Church of Diotissa Virgin Mary Church, in Dias island.