Icon with Saint Gerasimus of Kefalonia – embroidered, framed, 32x40cm
Saint Gerasimus, the New Ascetic of Cephalonia (1506-1579), was born in the village of Trikkala in the Peloponnese. At the beginning of his adulthood, he entered monastic life on the island of Zakynthos and then followed devoutly the path to Mount Athos, where he dedicated his life to monasticism, guided by the wisdom of the hermits who lived there.
He belonged to the noble Byzantine family of Notaras, with his roots tied to Luca Notaras, who served as prime minister in the waning days of the Byzantine Empire. Although he could have known a life free from material worries, Saint Gerasimus chose to direct his steps towards monastic life, renouncing fleeting pleasures and following Christ in asceticism.
Blessed by his parents, the monk journeyed to Jerusalem, venerating the Holy Sepulchre, the source of life. He traveled through holy lands, from Mount Sinai to Antioch, from Damascus to Alexandria and Egypt, nourishing his soul with prayer and contemplation. Finally, he returned to Jerusalem, becoming a candle keeper at the Holy Sepulchre.
Ordained a deacon and then a priest by the wise Patriarch Germanus of Jerusalem (1534-1579), Saint Gerasimus continued to live a holy life, leaving the world to retire to the solitude of the Jordan River. Later, Saint Gerasimus withdrew to a harsh post on the island of Zakynthos, where he sustained himself only with herbs.
Saint Gerasimus built the church of Omala and founded a convent for nuns, which over time became a place of blessings.
For his pure life, Saint Gerasimus received the gift of healing the sick and driving out unclean spirits.
At the age of 71, feeling that his end was near, Saint Gerasimus blessed the nuns and fell asleep in the Lord on August 15, 1579. In the final moments of his earthly life, the fathers Ioanichie and Germanus, together with the abbess Laurentia, watched over his passing. It is said that his last words were: "Τεκνία ειρηνεύετε εν εαυτοίς και μη τα υψηλά φρονείτε" ("Live in peace with yourselves, like a child, and do not think lofty thoughts").
Two years later, when his tomb was opened, his incorrupt and fragrant relics were discovered, which were healing for illnesses.
Due to the celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God on August 15, Saint Gerasimus is honored on August 16. On October 20, the unveiling of his relics is celebrated, in the year 1581.
