CHURCH OF THE HOLY VIRGIN "SISSIOTISSA"

The Church of the Holy Virgin known as "Sissiotissa", dedicated to the Holy Virgin's Presentation, is located on the Argostoli shoreline near the bridge built by the Swiss engineer De Bosset. De Bosset . This is the site where the annual celebration of Epiphany takes place in Argostoli, with the Metropolitan downing the Holy Cross from the bridge into the waters of the Gulf of Argostoli.

Base on available data, it is believed that the name "Sissiotissa" can be attributed to the fact that around 1790-1800, on the spot where the church stands today, stood a tiny church dedidated to the Holy Virgin which belonged to the "Sission" Holy Monastery ("Sissia)". Sissia itself derives its name from the hometown of its founder Catholic monk Francis of Assisi in Italy. The small church, which eventually became "Sissiotissa", is documented by historians as belonging to Sissia Monastery as far back as 1710. It is worthwhile mentioning here that after the departure of the Catholic monks, Sissia was was transferred to the Orthodox brotherhood. The small church of "Sissiotissa" was adequate for the brotherhood's needs. It was later on transferred to the noble families of Kontomichalou, Momferatou and Peristianou who in turn pulled down the small church and erected a magnificent church in its place in 1860, built in the Roman style - complete with basilica and dome.

The Church, with an exquisite gold-guilted carved temple, served as the Metropolitan Cathedral until 1895. Unfortunately, the earthquakes of 1953 turned this magnificent church into ruins.

Reconstruction started four years later -on April 10th 1957 - by the Greek Army and on March 23rd 1958 the new church was inaugurated by the President and Chief Clergyman Father Nicolaos Garbis and the Ecclesiastic Council:

1. Michael Raftopoulos
2. Nicolaos Kounadis
3. Charalambos Tsasis
4. Gerasimos Chaliotis

The Church celebrates on:

1) November 21st in honor of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin.

2) All Saints Day in honor of the old icon of tremendous archeological value kept in Sissiotissa.

3) On July 27th in honor of the Great Martyr St. Panteleimon the miracle worker.

4) On August 27th in honor of the Great Martyr St. Fanourios.

5) On October 26th in honor of the Great Martyr St. Demetrios.

In addition, on January 6th, Epiphany is celebrated with splendor in the presence of the local Metropolitan who performs the Holy Liturgy. At its conclusion, clergy and the faithful walk from the church towards DeBosset Bridge to the spot of the Dowining of the Holy Cross into Argostoli Bay.

Among the many treasures kept in "Sissiotissa" is the icon of the Holy Virgin the Portaitissa, a piece of artwork by Andreas Fokas Ioannou Kosmetatou, dated back to 1826.