CELEBRATION OF THE RESTORATION OF THE OLD KATHOLIKON OF THE HOLY MONASTERY OF SISSIA
2 – 4 OCTOBER
2026
From Friday 2 October to Sunday 4 October, the GEORGE & MARIE VERGOTTIS FOUNDATION [FOUNDATION] welcomes and hosts scholars and members of ELLINIKI ETAIRIA Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET), to celebrate the completion of the restoration of an emblematic monument of Kefalonia, the old Katholikon of the Holy Monastery of Sissia.
Within the framework of the FOUNDATION’s statutory purpose, the study and promotion of topics of Kefalonian History, Archaeology and Environment, the highlighting of landmarks of the history and culture of our island is, among other things, a fundamental concern. This is why the FOUNDATION seeks partnerships with organisations whose work in its specific fields of activity is undisputed and substantial. The partnership with ELLET was a natural choice, and we hope that this event and the two-day excursion will be the starting point of a lasting partnership and contribution to Kefalonia.
For more than 50 years, ELLET has been working on the protection of the country’s environment and cultural heritage, through the restoration of monuments, interventions in the institutional framework, educational programmes and the creation of walking trail networks. It is the official representative of Europa Nostra in Greece.
The FOUNDATION, together with ELLET, has organised a programme of events aimed at familiarising local residents with the process and progress of the restorations, honouring the sponsors, and also introducing ELLET members and visitors to important landmarks of Kefalonia.
The programme includes:
Friday 2/10
- Welcome of ELLET at the Vergottis Cultural Centre in Kourkoumelata.
- Presentation of ELLET’s work and of the restoration studies for the Holy Monastery of Sissia, the Holy Monastery of Agioi Fanentes and the Vallianos residence.
- Award to Mr Athanasios Martinos and Mrs Marina Martinou by the George & Marie Vergottis Foundation.
Saturday 3/10
- Visit to the Holy Monastery of Agios Andreas Milapidias / Museum of Ecclesiastical History of Kefalonia.
- Tour of the Venetian Castle of Agios Georgios (medieval capital of Kefalonia), visit to the Venetian churches of Borgo, that is, the settlement surrounding it, and specifically the Evangelistria, Agioi Theodoroi and Agios Spyridon.
- Tour of the Holy Monastery of Sissia, with a guided tour of the restored church.
- Festal Vespers for the celebration of the restoration at the Holy Monastery of Sissia, with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Kefalonia, His Eminence Dimitrios.
Sunday 4/10
- Sami: Tour of the Holy Monastery of Agrilia, guided tour of the Monastery of Agioi Fanentes (an ELLET study) and of the Acropolis of ancient Sami.
- Walking route from Agioi Fanentes to Sami.
- Visit to the Archaeological Collection of Sami.
- Tour of Palaia Vlachata.
- Guided tour of the Casa-Museo (Karavomylos) by the founder of the museum, Mr Takis Tokkas.
Restoration of the old Katholikon of the Holy Monastery of Sissia – A few words about the project
The inclusion of the restoration project of the Sissia Monastery, as well as of two more emblematic monuments of Kefalonia – the Church of Agioi Fanentes and the adjacent frescoed chapel of Agios Nikolaos in Sami – in ESPA is the result of a long-standing effort by ELLINIKI ETAIRIA Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET), particularly important for the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of Kefalonia.
The Katholikon of the old Sissia Monastery, as well as the Church of Agioi Fanentes and the adjacent frescoed chapel of Agios Nikolaos in Sami, despite their undeniable architectural and historical value, had remained in ruins since 1953, abandoned to the wear of time and to successive earthquakes, the most recent and most severe being those of 2014.
In 2013, ELLET’s Architectural Heritage Council took the initiative to rescue these monuments. It then took the initiative to secure the resources required for the preparation of full restoration studies (architectural, structural, conservation and electromechanical) by experienced specialists.
The preparation of the restoration studies for the Katholikon of the Sissia Monastery, Agioi Fanentes and Agios Nikolaos was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Thanasis Martinos and Marina Martinou.
The studies were approved by the Central Archaeological Council in 2017. However, the inclusion of the restoration works in ESPA was not a given and required persistence and systematic work. Under the care of ELLET, the tender documents were prepared in cooperation with the Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments of the Ministry of Culture, which also submitted the application for the inclusion of the project in ESPA. The Region of the Ionian Islands also provided long-standing support, so that this positive development could become possible.
We hope that the restoration of the Church of Agioi Fanentes will also be completed soon.
The example of the Sissia Monastery can serve as a guide for a great number of other monuments on the island that are in need of protection: setting priorities, preparing full restoration studies by specialised experts, obtaining all the required approvals from the Ministry of Culture and including the restoration works in European programmes.
Programme contributors: P. Kremezis (civil engineer), President of the Architectural Heritage Council (AHC) (2013-2018), E. Maistrou (Professor Emerita, NTUA), President of the AHC (2018 to present), D. Leventis (architect).
Programme design and coordination, recording of monuments (2013-2017): K. Koutsadelis (archaeologist), scientific associate of the AHC.
Coordination (2018-2020): E. Skendrou (civil engineer), G. Kourmadas (architect), N. Varouchaki (architect), scientific associates of the AHC.
Members of the programme and studies monitoring committee: K. Kremezi (Professor Emerita, NTUA), E. Georgopoulou (architect), A. Poziopoulos (architect), A. Antypas (economist).
Study team for the old Katholikon of the Sissia Monastery: E.A. Chlepa, V. Katsimpoulas, F. Vlachaki, A. Gouma (architects), Ch. Spanos (civil engineer), P. Feleris, M. Kontaki (conservators), K. Zafeiras (M&E), E. Triantou, F. Bourexis (surveying engineers), T. Papadogonas (antiquities draughtsman).
Study sponsors: Athanasios Martinos and Marina Martinou.
