Festival of Aghios Gerassimos
               
         
 

If you are lucky enough to find yourself on Kefalonia during either of the annual festivals at Aghios Gerassimos on August 16th or October 20th, it is well worth visiting the monastery to observe the festivities.

We visited in October 2002 and Most of the Islands population seemed to be there too! The event appears to be televisedNationally too as there were a number of outside broadcast cres present.

The prayers and chants of the litany in the church seem to go on for hours but there are plenty of stalls to browse in the market until the procession beins.
           
 
The remains of St Gerassimos are carried in the silver casket, down the tree lined avenue as far as the well. (the roundabout).He is followed by a procession of Marching bands,nuns,local dignitories,and the priests in their splendid processional robes.
  
           
   
A large market, with hundreds of stalls arrives for the festivities, selling a variety of clothes,foodstuffs,jewellery,pictures and household goods.