Saint Dionysios

The patron of the island of Zakynthos:
Agios Dionysios

The Island feast (24.8.)

Backgrounds
The Holy Dionysios was born in 1547 in Zakynthos, son of Nutzios Sigouros and Pavlina Valvi. He was baptized in the name of Draganigos and is of aristocratic descent (one of the leading families of the island).

Since his youth he had been interested in the church. At age 20 he turned away from worldly life and entered the imperial monastery on Strophaden (a small island group in the south of Zakynthos) as a monk.

He became a priest and received the name Daniil, later he was appointed as Archbishop of Aegina and Poros, and given the name Dionysios. Later, he left his throne and returned to Zakynthos, at the Church of Agios Nikolaos tou Molou to act as a simple priest (1583-1586). At old age he retired as a monk in the monastery of Anafonitria until his death on 17 December 1622.

At his request he was buried in the monastery on the Strophaden.
In 1703, the patriarch Gabriel canonized him. August 24th of 1717 his relics – that were kept  in a silver shrine – were brought to the main church of Zakynthos town, which was then named after him and he then became the protector of the island

Today
The coffin will be open five times a year:
at 17.12. – His name day on Theofania (Three-Kingship), Easter, Christmas and on 24.8. – Transfer his relics from the Strophaden to Zakynthos, now the Island feast.

The locals often give their children his name to honour St. Dionysios.
If someone falls ill, the priest will come to cure him with the help of St. Dionysios.

Processions
On the 17th of December – the anniversary of the death of the local patron of Zakynthos – the locals commemorate the saint with a big procession. His relics are borne on this day in a procession accompanied by a band through the city.
The 24th of August, the second major holiday of the patron of Zakynthos, is after Easter, it is the biggest festival on the island. In the afternoon there is a magnificent procession through the streets. It follows a two day festival.
This annual procession is an important event for all believers, not only for the locals, but also for many other Greeks. In 1953, only 11 days after the catastrophic earthquake that  razed the city to the ground, the procession took place every year. The locals all went into the streets and wept for the suffering of the Holy Dionysius and the earthquake and fire that had destroyed their houses. In the procession you find political dignitaries, the ministers, the islanders and many pilgrims who come for the procession in Zakynthos. The Holy Dionysius is also considered a healer. On the streets where the procession passes, dozens of believers kneel down in the faith that they will be cured if the relics pass them. This nocturnal procession is really fantastic. The coloured lanterns light up the night, the priests sing psalms, and bear their solemn priestly vestments and the illuminated tower of the church of St. Dionysios dominates the city, while the locals throw fireworks in the air, to honour the saints.

Agios Dionysios church

In the earthquake of 1953 the church was one of the few buildings in the city that was barely destroyed. The firm conviction of many of the locals is, that St. Dionysios kept his hands protectively over the church. Zakynthos is a place that is closely connected with religion and hence the tradition of the procession.