The Monastery of Agios Andreas (St. Andrew) is suspected to be built during the 13th century and was renovated in 1639.
As known, the island of Kefalonia was badly wounded in 1953 by earthquakes and so was the biggest part of the monastery. It was then, when rare wall paintings were discovered. In later years the church was fully restored.
The area of the main part of he Church is preserved intact in its original form. The iconostasis is covered with icons work of the early 17th century. The parapet of the temple, with subjects from the Passion of Christ was made by the priest Theodore Poulakis, while the sanctuary doors depicting the three bishops are works of the deacon Athanasius Anninou.
The monastery celebrates twice a year: on November 30th in memory of Agios Andreas and on Easter Friday in memory of the Life Giving Fountain, which is also the second protector of the monastery.
Under the initiative of Bishop of Cephalonia, the Ecclesiastic Byzantine Museum of Peratata was founded in 1988. In the year 2002 it was housed in its own building built for this purpose, at the Monastery of Agios Andreas.
In the first room are the detached wall paintings from the Holy Temple of the church of the Archangels of Milapidias. Among the exhibits are the shroud of the national martyr Patriarch of Constantinople, Gregory 5th, the stole (vestment) of Agios Nektarios and the shirt of Agios Panagis (priest-Basia). One can also see two handwritten letters of Agios Cosmas of Aetolia, from 1777.
One of the most important exhibits is the bag of Archbishop of Kefalonia, embroidered by Sister Theodora Kanali from Metaksata, between 1715 and 1721. The bag shows themes from the Jesus Christ as the “Vine” in front and Mary as “Root of the Iesai” in the rear.
Opening hours of Monastery:
Monday – Sunday: 7am – 2pm and from 5pm – 8pm
Opening hours of Museum:
Monday – Saturday: 8am – 2pm
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