Description of the attraction
The Church of Agios Dionysios is one of the most impressive structures on the picturesque Greek island of Zakynthos. The temple is located on the city waterfront of the city 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 structures in Zakynthos that survived the catastrophic earthquake of 1953 rather safely.
The temple got its name in honor of Saint Dionysius - the patron saint, as well as 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 the 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 Agios Dionysios 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, kept in a carved silver ark.
Twice a year, on 24 August and 17 December, 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.
