Church of St. Dionysus

The church was founded by monks at the beginning of the 18th century. They originally lived on a small Greek island in the Strofada archipelago and cared for the body of Saint Dionysus. However, due to pirate raids, they had to leave the place and relocated to the island of Zakynthos, where Saint Dionysos was born, together with the remains of the saint. In the 1850s, a bell tower (kampanario) was added to the temple. However, the earthquake of 1893 had a devastating impact on the building. After 23 years of work, the present church building was completed in 1948 and a few years later was put to the test by a major earthquake (1953). The Church of St. Dionysos was one of the few buildings to withstand the earthquake, which is considered a miracle and a blessing by the locals.

St. Dionysius Church is a beautiful building not only from the outside, but it also has a very interesting interior. The church is richly decorated with frescoes, beautiful paintings, large chandeliers, golden elements, stained glass windows, and a beautiful iconostasis is sure to catch the eye of visitors. Inside the temple, there are also relics of Saint Dionysus placed in a silver coffin, which is the work of Diamantis Bafas. It is said that when the faithful whisper their wishes to the benevolent monk, the coffin opens slightly. Saint Dionysos is also said to be frequently seen alive and walking. Therefore, his slippers are also regularly renewed, for they are trampled and full of sand as he goes about performing miracles.

Pilgrims come here all year round and twice a year processions are held - on 17 December, the anniversary of the saint's death, and on 24 August, when the remains of St Donys were taken to Zakynthos.

The Church of St. Dionysius is located in the capital of Zakynthos, with a beautiful view of the harbour. It is also decorated with a slender white bell tower, about 40 m high, which is unmissable and beautifully lit at night. The church consists of a large three-aisled basilica with an elevated central nave supported by 14 marble columns with Corinthian capitals.

Saint Dionysios (Agios Dionysios)

Saint Dionysios (Agios Dionysios) is the patron and protector of the island of Zakynthos. Born in 1547 on the Greek island of Zakynthos into a noble family, he received a Christian upbringing and education from a young age. He knew Italian, ancient Greek and Latin. At the age of twenty, after the death of both parents, he gave all his property to his brother and sister and decided to enter a monastery. He settled on the small island of Strofady a few miles off the coast of Zakynthos. Over the years he was ordained a priest and later became Archbishop of Aegina.

He spent the last years of his life in the monastery of Our Lady of Anafonitria on the island of Zakynthos. It was also here that an event took place that became a legend in the life of this saint. One day a man came to him in the church and begged him to hide him from his persecutors. It turned out that this man was being persecuted because he had killed a monk - coincidentally, the brother of St. Dionysius. St. Dionysos was very disappointed and saddened, but nevertheless did not expel his brother's murderer from the church and did not deliver him into the hands of his persecutors. The murderer did deep penance and eventually became a monk himself. Agios Dionysios is considered a model of forgiveness, even of the gravest sins against us.

According to his wishes, after his death in December 1622, Dionysios was buried in the monastery of Agios Georgios on the island of Strofades, where he had lived for so many years and where he was ordained a priest. Even after several years, however, his body remained intact and gave off a mixed scent of flowers and incense. And the Patriarch of Constantinople pronounced his sacrament. Today, the saint's remains are enshrined in the Church of St. Dionysius, where thousands of pilgrims go every year.

More touristic destinations of Zakynthos

Most favourite sights of Zakynthos: Monastery of Anafonitria, Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa, Church of Saint Dionysius, Church of Saint Nicholas (Zante), Skinari Windmill, Ruins of Bochali Castle

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Zakynthos.