Zakinthos, Greece

So the next stop on our Mediterranean cruise was Zakinthos, Greece. This was our first stop in Greece and i was excited. My parents have been to Greece and LOVED it. They have not been to this island, but that is ok. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that a CBU ISP team ministered on this island as well as the mainland Greece during a trip. I quickly learned that each Greek island has a patron saint that the islanders pray to for protection and help. This island was no different. Their saint was Saint Dennis (or Saint Dionysus). He is known on the island for his apparent healing powers. We learned of a festival that is held on this island where the casket holding his body is paraded around the streets. If a person lays under his casket as it goes by, they will be healed of whatever illness they have (according to local tradition). This made me sad. These people are worshiping a person and trusting in a person to heal them and help them instead of the one true Living God! We visited the monastery where St. Dennis lived and worked, we were forbidden from taking pictures inside which is too bad, because it was pretty interesting. We also visited a local village and learned a bit about the islands history during WWII. During WWII, when the island was taken over by the Nazi's they were asked to give a list of the Jewish people living on the island. The people of Zakinthos refused and hid the Jews in rural villages. What a neat heritage this island has!

Zakinthos (one of the Greek islands) is on the left hand side near the middle.

Zakinthos with our ship in the background!

Coming to the island!

Pretty ocean!

The Mayor Karrer who refused to give the Nazi's all the Jewish people living on the island!

The monastery where the patron saint of the island lived

The monastery, how pretty is this?

The monastery again...

The only part of the monastery with AC!

Its a Scandal!! haha

Map of the Island

Beautiful blue ocean!

Love, Love, Love these blue shutters!

The port

Such a beautiful place!

OK so I realized that I skipped a port in Italy, and of course we have to go back to that port! Sorry I skipped it....i guess i was so excited about Pompeii that I skipped it! IT is Sorrento Italy and its beautiful....so we will travel there next.


~N