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CONVENT OF SAINT GERASIMOS
The Convent celebrates five times a year: On 16th August (the Dormition of the Saint) and on 23rd August ("nine days" after the Dormition of the Saint). In the period between the two celebrations it has been decreed by the Most Rev. Spyridon, the present Metropolitan, to perform Holy Week in honour of the Saint with Episcopal Holy Masses, divine services and sermons.
Visits to the Convent can be made every day between 04.00a.m. to
13.00p.m. and 15.30p.m. to 21.00p.m. Additional information can be obtained from:
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In
1560 St Gerasimos arrived in Omala where he rebuilt the country
chapel of the Dormition of The Virgin, establishing at the same
time a convent with many members naming it "New Jerusalem".
In 1582, on October 20th, the removal of his relics took place.
Since then the Sacred Relic of St. Gerasimos is kept unperished
and fragrant for blessing of the faithful. It is dressed with the
burial robes of the Saint and it is displayed for worship inside
a glass relic-case that is embodied in a larger silver magnificent
larnax (casket) which is placed above the Saint's tomb.Also preserved
in the church is the Saint's hermitage that can be reached by descending
a ladder three meters high whichleads into a cave divided via a
narrow hole into two chambers. Within the grounds of the the Convent
are preserved the two big plane-trees planted by the Saint, the
three wells with 37 smaller ones dug by his own hands thus benefitting
the arid area, together with two thrushing fields that he developed
and worked on so as to ensure the necessities for the Convent. 
From
its its establishment to date, solemn vigil Holy Mass is held in
the Convent from 03.00a.m. till 07.00a.m.
On
the 20th and 26th of October (the removal and the granting of the
remains of the Holy Relic) there are grand celebrations. The glass
case bearing the Saint's Relic is positioned upright on the south
door of the iconostasis (templon) until the Sunday after Easter
(St. Thomas day) when a Celebrated Episcopal Holy Mass is performed.
Each day during this period litany processions take place with the
participation of the clergy and thousands of pilgrims. Following
the litany procession, food prepared with special care by the nuns
is offered. The nuns engage in hospitality (the Convent has a guest-house)
and agiography. They have also developed rich charitable and missionary
activities. Divine services are performed continuously and the Convent
follows the ritual of St Savva's Monastery in Jerusalem. 
