Monastery of Argilion in Kefalonia

The Monastery of Argilion in Kefalonia, Greece: On a hill just above the bay of Sami, there is the Monastery of Agrilion, an important religious site for the locals. The location of the monastery offers an incredible view to the blue-green waters of Antisamos beach on one side and the towns of Sami and Agia Efimia on the other.

The monastery was founded in the 18th century by two shepherds, who had found a miracle-working icon of Virgin Mary on that same spot in 1722. These two shepherds, Jacob and Symeon, became monks and were the first monks to live in his monastery. It is said that Saint Cosmas of Aetolia (1700-1779), also known as Father Kosmas Etolos, an Orthodox monk and important figure of the Greek Enlightenment, stayed in this monastery during his visit on Kefalonia.

The icon of Virgin Mary that was found by the two monks has been incorporated today in a larger icon of Virgin Mary (Panagia) Agriliotissa. There is a large "panigiri" in this monastery on August 15th, while the memory of Kosmas Etolos is also honored on August 24th.