There are a number of
beautiful and historical churches in Zante Town. If you spend a day or
evening in the main town you will see these beautiful churches dotted
around the town. Here we have compiled a little information about three
of the biggest and most prominent churches on the island of Zante.
The Church of Saint
Dennis stands at the entrance to Zante Town - it is one of the biggest
churches on the island and you will not miss the tall bell tower
standing over the port as you drive through Zante Town.
Saint Dennis, as he is
known in English, is the Patron Saint of the island of Zakynthos. He was
born in Zante in 1546 into the Venetian ruling class – but all reports
suggest that from an early age his character was very kind and he
refused all of the advantages of his class.
After the death of his
parents, at the age of 20 years old, Saint Dennis donated his fortune to
his brother and became a monk in the monastery of Strofades, in the
south of the island of Zakynthos.
In 1577, Saint Dennis left Zante to become the Archbishop on Aegina
island. Two years later health problems forced him to resign and return
to his homeland, where he stayed as an abbot in the monastery of the
Strofades.
One rainy night, a
desperate man came to the monastery and asked for help. This man had
just committed a murder. Saint Dennis discovered that this man had
killed his own brother. Despite his personal sorrow, the monk provided a
shelter to the murderer and even helped him to escape the island, saving
his life in order to prevent another crime taking place. Local tradition
suggests that the murderer later returned and became a monk in that same
monastery.
The monk died in 1622, at
the age of 75 and was buried in the church of Agios Georgios in the
Strofades, where he was ordained a priest.
Three years later, when he was exhumed, his body was found intact and
remains intact still today. The Saint’s body is displayed in the church
of Saint Dennis in Zante Town, where many pilgrims come every year to
pray.
The memory of Saint Dennis is celebrated on December 17th, the day of
his death, and on August 24th, the day his body was transferred to
Zakynthos town and laid in the church. Both celebrations are important
days for the island with parades through the town of many Orthodox
Priests and worshipers.
Saint Markos Catholic
Church in St Markos Square
St Markos Church stands
next to the Museum of Solomos and Kalvos in St Markos Square. It was
originally built in 1518, but was destroyed following the earthquake in
Zakynthos in 1953. Although it was rebuilt, St Markos Church is now
smaller than the original foundation church of Saint Markos.
Catholic services are
held at Saint Markos church during the summer month. Saint Markos church
is also used frequently throughout the summer for weddings in Zante,
particularly those of Irish couples coming to marry on the beautiful
island of Zakynthos with Zante Weddings organized by Tsilivi Travel in
Zakynthos.
St Markos Church is the
only Catholic Church on the island of Zakynthos. The interior of the
church is simply decorated with a very pretty ambience. St Markos Square
has played an important role in the history of Zakynthos in that it was
the meeting place for people to discuss ideas.
The Church of Saint
Nicholas
Another interesting and
historical church in Zakynthos Town is the Church of St Nicholas of
Mole, or Agios Nikolas tou Molou in Greek. It is located at the bottom
of Solomos Square, over the road from the Zante port on the waterfront.
The Zante church of Saint Nicholas was built in 1561 and is one of the
oldest buildings on the island. This church, located in Solomos Square,
is the only building in Venetian style to have survived the earthquake
in 1953 following which most of the town of Zakynthos was destroyed by
fire.
The Church of Saint Nicholas is a church of historical value and great
importance in Zakynthos because the patron saint of the island, Saint
Dionisios, served here. The robes of Saint Dionisios are still housed in
the church today.
We are filming a variety of Zante web videos this summer in Zakynthos
which will bring you a wide selection of our favorite accommodations,
sight-seeing, trips in Zante and our selected options of the best
activities and things to do while on holiday in Zante. If you have any
suggestions please email us.
