The Ionian Islands, as everywhere in Greece, have a saint to protect them.
All but two that have the Virgin Mary. Ithaca has Panagia Kathariotissa (8 September) and our own Lefkada has Panagia Faneromeni,
which is officially celebrated on the Monday of the Holy Spirit in the monastery of the same name,
although it is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Her feast marks the beginning of the summer season and is a source of comfort and strength for Lefkadians,
wherever they are on earth. It is also a great pilgrimage for visitors to the island, because of the great history of the monastery.
Until a few years ago it was the only monastery in Lefkada that could be visited and manned.
It is located in a uniquely beautiful location, on a green hill just 3 km southwest of the town of Lefkada,
with an excellent view of the Ionian Sea, the mountains of Acarnania and Epirus, the lagoons,
the sandy beaches of Gyra and the entrance to the island.
This is one more reason to visit this beautiful place.
The history of the area goes back to the centuries , to 65 AD and mixes the Christian faith with the ancient Greek faith as,
according to the legend, the xanax of the goddess Artemis miraculously collapsed and the area was transformed from a place of worship to the first “ektirio house” of the island.
The picture of the Virgin Mary was created in the 5th century in Constantinople by the monk and icon painter Callisto,
who, according to tradition, found it ready designed by the Virgin Mary herself and he added the colours and from this miracle,
she got the name Faneromeni. This picture, however, was later burned in a fire.
The new picture that is hosted in the monastery is the work of Veniamim Kontrakis from 1887.
In 1634, the first church was founded on the site by the priest Philip Stamatelos from the village of Tsoukalades.
Lefkada experienced many conquerors and the Monastery of Faneromeni was not left unscathed by this.
It was destroyed and rebuilt several times and took its present form after 1886.
It was praised by all the Lefkadian poets, such as Valaoritis, Sikelianos, etc.
It was also a meeting place for the Filiki of the island during the pre-revolutionary period.
In the monastery’s premises, apart from the Katholikon, the cells and the reception areas for pilgrims,
there is an important library, an Ecclesiastical Museum, rich in relics from the monastery and other churches of the island,
as well as a Maritime Museum, with ship models, made by Mr. Nikolaos Thanos (Morina).
There is also a small church dedicated to St. Silouanos the Athonite.
Panagia Faneromeni is for the Lefkadians their Lady, their protector and their comfort.