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CONVENT OF THE DORMITION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN AT KORONATO
Under the guidance of the late Mother Superior, girls from all over the island were taught the art of needlework in the retreat, assuring that this traditional art would stay alive on the island. Entire dowries were prepared and sent abroad. Re recognition of the Retreat as an independent Convent took place in 1967. The following chapels are belong to the Convent: Another valuable treasure kept in the same glass case is the oval
pectoral cross of the Annuciation, The Convent celebrates on: August 15th (feast day of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin.
At the end of the Holy Mass the nuns offer a plentiful meal food prepared by them with care.
A museum will soon be completed in the grounds of the Convent in
order to house the many available treasures that are not currently
on display due to lack of appropriate space. Daily visits to the Convent take place from 07.00am to 13.00pm
and from 16.00pm to 20.30pm.
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The
Convent of Koronato is located at a distance of 3 km from the town
of Lixouri. According to tradition, the nobleman Leon Polykalas
- a fugitive escaping prosecution from Koroni in Peloponissos, came
for shelter to the district of Paliki in Cephalonia bringing with
him the icon of the Holy Virgin. At the end of the15th century he
seremoniously dedicated the icon to a church built with his care
and funding. During the next century the church was destroyed -
probably by earthquakes. A shepherd of the Megalogenous family from
the village of Polykalata was tending his sheep at the present location
of the Convent. The ram was leaving the herd and going to the water
fountain below the fig tree (in the place where the church was before
the earthquake) to drink water. The shepherd, having followed the
ram, saw a blinding flash above the fig tree. As he came closer
he saw the icon of the Holy Virgin with a small pectoral cross.
He lower the icon from the tree and carried it home. However, the
icon would disappear from the house and reappear in the original
place found by the shepherd. After many repetitions of the event,
shepherd felt compelled to announce the miracle to the village people.
With their assistance, the church was reconstructed. The original
icon of Koroniotissa was lost. The miraculous icon that sits on
the throne today is an exact replica. It is also called "Dakryrooussa"
because during the earthquakes on January 23rd 1867 the icon was
found on the floor with tears in the eyes, while the church remained
intact.
In
1926, the deserted convent was inhabited by Aspasia Moschona (Nun
Leodia, who eventually became Mother Superior of St. Gerasimos Convent)
and Dimitra Megalogenous (Nun Agathi who later on and for the next
62 years became Mother Superior of the Convent of Koronato). The
spiritual guidance of devout Monks from Mount Athos and the material
contribution of devout inhabitants of Lixouri led to the development
of a peaceful retreat.
During
the annual Holy Virgin celebrations as well as the celebrations
for major saints, devout vigils are held in a festive atmosphere
in the Convent. The Holy Masses are regular and in accordance with
Mount Athos rituals. The nuns engage in hospitality, needlework,
(Sacred Table's officiating vestments etc), handcraft, agriculture,
gardening and animal breeding. The presense of the Convent has contributed
significantly to the ethical and spiritual development of the inhabitants
of Paliki.
