Church of St. Dionysios (Agios Dionysios) description and photos - Greece: Zakynthos (city) (Topic)

Church of St. Dionysios (Agios Dionysios) description and photos - Greece: Zakynthos (city). Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Agios Dionysios.

Photo and description

The Church of St. Dionysius is one of the most impressive structures on the picturesque Greek island of Zakynthos. The temple is located on the city embankment of Zakynthos (Zante), and its imposing bell tower is the first thing that guests of the island see when arriving at the port of Zakynthos. The Church of St. Dionysius is one of the few buildings in Zakynthos that survived the catastrophic earthquake of 1953 rather safely.

The temple got its name in honor of St. Dionysius, the patron saint, and also one of the most revered saints of the island of Zakynthos. Saint Dionysius (in the world Draganigos Siguros) was born on the island of Zakynthos in 1547 into a family belonging to a noble Venetian family, and was known as a highly educated person. In 1568 he became a monk, and two years later he was ordained a priest. In 1577, he became archbishop of Aegina and Poros, but soon resigned and returned to his homeland as abbot of the monastery. After the intrigues of ill-wishers and slander, he was reduced to the position of a simple village priest, which, however, did not prevent him from earning the love and great respect of the inhabitants of Zakynthos. Saint Dionysius spent the last years of his life in the monastery of Anafonitrias, where he rested on December 17, 1622. In 1703, Saint Dionysius was canonized by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

The Church of Saint Dionysius is the main temple of the island and impresses with its luxurious interior decoration - excellent wall paintings and stunning icons, among which are the works of such famous Greek icon painters as Doksaras and Kutuzis. The main relic of the temple is the relics of St. Dionysius, stored in a carved silver ark.

Twice a year, on August 24 and December 17, the inhabitants of Zakynthos celebrate the Day of St. Dionysius on a grand scale. After the Divine Liturgy, the clergy, accompanied by a solemn procession, perform a procession with the relics of the saint. These days, many pilgrims come to the island, wishing to honor the memory of St. Dionysius and venerate the holy relics.

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Topic: Church of St. Dionysios (Agios Dionysios) description and photos - Greece: Zakynthos (city).