Gerasimos of Kephalonia

Our venerable and God-bearing Father Gerasimos of Cephalonia (also Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia) was a hermit, priest-monk, and wonder-worker of the sixteenth century. His repose is commemorated by the church August 16 yet his main feast day is celebrated on October 20.

Life

St. Gerasimos was born in 1509 in the tiny village of Trikala Corinthos, in the Peloponnesus and a decendant of the Notaras, a well known Byzantine family during the reign of Constantine Palaiologos. <note> His grandfather was the brother of Lukas Notaras the President </note>

He was reared in piety by his parents, Demetrios and Kale, and studied the sacred writings. At a young age he visited Constantinople. It was during this visit that he was moved with compunction for the number of Christians who martyred and made the decision to commit his life to monasticism. With this in mind, he went straight to Mount Athos and remained for around five years. He then moved to the Holy Land and remained in Jerusalem for twelve years. He also visited other Mount Sinai, Egypt and Crete; where he remained in a cave for two years. From there he went to Zakynthos, where he also remained in a cave for around five years, and at the age of around 50 ended up in a cave in Cephalonia.

In Cephaloinia he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala.

He finished the course of his life on August 15, 1570 but is commemorated by the church August 16 to keep all honour to the Holy Mother on the fifteenth.

His sacred relic, which remains incorrupt, is kept in the monastery for the sanctification and veneration by the faithful.

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Source

• Gerasimos Of Cephalonia (Iconograms: GOARCH)

External links

• Venerable Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia, October 20 (OCA)
• Venerable Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia, August 16 (OCA)
• Gerasimos of Cephalonia (GOARCH)
• The Venerable Gerasimus the New (Prologue of Ohrid)