NEW YORK – In a serene atmosphere, the feast day of St. Gerasimos, patron saint of Kefalonia, was celebrated at St. Gerasimos Church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the vespers service with artoklasia on August 15 presided over by Archimandrite the V. Rev. Fr. Maximos Politis, presiding priest of St. Peter the Apostle Church in the Bronx.
Regarding the message of the commemoration of St. Gerasimos, Fr. Politis told The National Herald that it is important to “emulate the example of St. Gerasimos, not the ascetic letter of life, but the spirit. The commandments of Jesus Christ incorporate ascetic life, it is an exercise of living a life in Christ, and they are realized with confidence in what God provides for the good of our soul.”
A reception followed in the church hall and the celebration of St. Gerasimos continued on August 16.
According to the official website of the Holy Metropolis of Kefalonia, St. Gerasimos (originally named George) was born in Trikala, Corinth in 1506, the son of Demetrios and Kali. His great-grandfather was the last Byzantine Prime Minister Loukas Notaras.
The same source reported that he lived in Zakynthos, Constantinople, Mount Athos as a Monk, in Jerusalem where he was ordained a priest and Archimandrite in the Holy Brotherhood and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
He returned to Greece and after some time in Crete and Zakynthos, eventually remained in Kefalonia as a hermit in a cave in the area Lassi and later, on the plateau of Omalon, where he restored the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Kimisis tis Theotokou). He founded the New Jerusalem convent known as the Saint Gerasimos monastery.
As noted on the official website of the Holy Monastery of Saint Gerasimos of Kefalonia, St. Gerasimos’ relics are found in the Old Church of the Holy Monastery.
To be noted, St. Gerasimos is celebrated on August 16 and on October 20.
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