Celebration date: 17/12/2021
Saint Dionysios was born in 1547 AD. in the village of Aigialos, Zakynthos. His common name was Draganigos or Gradenigos Sigouros (or Sikouros). His family was wealthy and owned a large area of land, while his parents participated in the Venetian wars against the Turks and acquired an aristocratic idiom. His father’s name was Mokios and his mother’s name was Paulina, while he had two other siblings, Konstantinos and Sigouras. According to local traditions of Zakynthos, which are not historically confirmed, Agios was sponsored by Agios Gerasimos (see August 16 and October 20). Saint Dionysios was brought up with the teachings of the Gospel. Thus he quickly distinguished himself in letters and virtue. Early, as soon as he came of age, he engaged in the teaching of the divine word, taking care at the same time to contribute to the relief of the poor.
Then he became a monk in the royal Monastery of Strophades, taking the name Daniel, where he practiced vigilance, temperance and the study of the Scriptures. Later Dionysios will be ordained a priest despite his initial reservations due to the heavy responsibility of the priesthood, by the bishop of Kefalonia and Zakynthos, Theophilos. Then, in 1577 AD, he went to Athens to find a ship to travel to Jerusalem. But the then high priest of Athens, Nikanoras, heard his brilliant sermon one Sunday and after many entreaties made him bishop of Aegina, with the official approval of the Church of Constantinople, giving him the name Dionysios. He performed his pastoral duties vigilantly and tirelessly. He emerged as a teacher, father and educator of his flock. His fame had spread far and wide, but he remained simple and humble. But he fell ill from the many labors and resigned.
He returned to Zakynthos, where until 1579 AD he was temporary bishop. Then he retired to the Monastery of Theotokos of Anafonitria, where he practiced asceticism and lovingly preached and helped the inhabitants of the island. The families of Sigourou and Mondino appear from surviving documents dating back to the archives of Venice to have had a deadly hatred. Clashes between the two families happened constantly. In one of them the Saint’s brother, Konstantinos, was murdered. However, in the attempt to escape, the murderer of Constantine sought refuge in the monastery where the Saint was, but without knowing the kinship. When the murderer arrived at the Monastery, he was asked by Dionysios, who was the abbot of the Monastery, why he was asking for refuge, since normally he was not allowed to enter. He replied that the Sigouros were chasing him, while after constant questioning he confessed that he murdered Konstantinos Sigouros. Dionysius, despite his grief, not only hid the murderer but also fled. So in this way he managed to prevent another crime and at the same time to give the possibility of repentance to the murderer, despite the bitterness for the loss of his brother, giving an example of forgiveness and high application of Christian ideals. For this reason he was also called “Saint of Forgiveness”. Dionysios died in old age, December 17, 1622 AD.
He was buried in the Strophadon Monastery and during the exhumation his remains came out fragrant and incorruptible. His holiness was recognized by the ecumenical patriarchate in 1703 AD, but on the island, due to his life, but also his remains, he was venerated as a saint much earlier. On August 24, 1717 AD moved his Septo Tent to Zakynthos to be protected from pirates. Initially it was kept in the Holy Church of Metochi of I. Moni, in the suburb of Kalliteros. In 1764 AD he was finally deposited in his eponymous Holy Monastery, built by the Monks of Strophades. Since then, his Septo Skenom is still a magnet for thousands of pilgrims and a source of constant healings and miracles.
The proclamation of Saint Dionysios as the Patron Saint of Zakynthos, instead of Our Lady of Skopiotissa and Saint John the Forerunner, was made by the Community of Zakynthos after the year 1758 AD. and before 1763 AD, when the Venetian Senate approved a decision by the Prophet of Zakynthos, Francis Manolesos, to recognize as an official day the 17th of December every year. Until then, the anniversary of the Dormition of Saint Dionysios (December 17), established by the Synodal Report of 1703 AD, was celebrated unofficially, with the litany in the city of the holy Leipsanos and a festival. It was also decided to officially celebrate the 24th of August, the anniversary of the transfer of the Holy Relic from Strofadia to Zakynthos, with a festival and litany of the Patron Saint in the city.
