Kefalonia MONASTERIES - CHURCHES

Tucked away at the end of Lepeda beach are the remains of the ancient monastery and new church of Aghia Paraskevi.

Antipata is a small village on the main road leading into Fiscardo which is 5 minutes away by car. The local church has an unusual construction.

When visiting religious places in Greece it is considered disrespectful to wear clothes better suited to the beach and specifically you should cover your shoulders. Covering your head is not necessary whilst neck to knee coverage is recommended.

Located 10 kms from Argostoli near the village of Peratata is the nunnery of Saint Andreas with a church dedicated to Saint Andrew

Situated in the Omala valley, the Monastery is dedicated to the island's patron saint and is the most important womanly Monastery on the island. Saint Gerasimos (1506-1579) came from the aristocratic and wealthy Notaras family.

Situated near the village of Havdata on the west coast of the Pali peninsula 15 kms from the town of Lixouri, the Monastery is built on the edge of a solid rocky cliff 90 metres above the sea.

The 13th century monastery of Saint Francis of Assis.

At the end of World War II, the British army erected a bailey bridge as a temporary measure on the road leading out of Argostoli to Sami. Under the bridge is a very unusual church - the church of Aghia Barbara.

Situated near the Castle of Saint George the church was built in 1580, according to an inscription on the wall.

Situated in the village of Markopoulo 25 kms from Argostoli the church houses the miraculous Virgin's icon, known as 'Lagouvarda'. (photo Images of Greece)

Situated in Argostoli in the Lithostroto pedestrian area this is the only functioning Catholic church on Kefalonia.

A Greek Orthodox Cemetary whose cultural value lies in the sculptures of the tombs which date from the mid-19th century until the inter-war years. Some of the monuments were created by famous artists such as Bonanos. There is a certain irony in the fact that this cemetery remained intact after the devastating earthquake of 1953

The British Cemetary is situated at the north end of the Drapano bridge on the road to Lixouri outside of Argostoli. It is the final resting place for over 200 British Servicemen and their families and for a few civilians. Recorded burials go back to 1681. A former British army officer, Roy Harrison, moved to Kefalonia in 1997 and the following year he was offered a contract by the War Graves Commission to care for the cemetery.

Saint Spyridon has his feastday on the 1st October. The church of Saint Spyridon is in the Lithostroto in Argostoli and after the evening service there is a procession which goes all the way to the church of the Virgin Mary of Drapanon which is near the cemetary over Drapeno bridge.

Often overshadowed by the famous Saint Gerassimos monastery, this little church in Lassi has its own history.

There is just one church in Fiscardo which is picturesque and has an interesting history...

Monastery of Theotokou Themata - our Lady of Themata - is situated high in the hills in a shady forest overlooking a large area of the Pylaros region.

An imposing newly built church in Sami houses some exceptiona frescoes and icons old and new.

The Metropolis Church is an important religious centre on Kefalonia.

Situated 5 kilometres above the town of Poros is the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Atros.

Near Sami, the Monastery was built in the 18th century when the miraculous icon of Theotokos was found by two shepherds and their maid in 1722.