Anafonitrias Monastery is one of the most famous and popular attractions on the Greek island of Zakynthos. It is located about 25 kilometres northwest of the island's capital of the same name, near Volmes, near the small village of Anafonitrias.
The holy monastery was founded supposedly in the 14th-15th century during the domination of the island by the Venetians. The monastery was originally built in honour of Our Lady of Vrefokratoussa, but was later renamed in honour of the miracle-working icon of the Virgin Anafonitria, which was brought here from Constantinople captured by the Turks in 1453.
The monastery is an important historical and architectural monument. It is one of the few structures on the island of Zakynthos that miraculously survived the catastrophic earthquake of 1953. To the right of the entrance you can see an impressive tower, built for defensive purposes and used today as a bell tower. In the centre of the monastery complex is the three-nave basilica, the main catholicon with beautiful ancient frescoes, estimated to be about 500 years old.
The Anafonitrias Monastery has a special significance for the people of Zakynthos. Here, in the 16th century, the patron saint of Zakynthos, St Dionysios, known for his generosity and good deeds, spent the last years of his life and died. It is believed that it was here that St Dionysios met his brother's murderer and, having absolved him of his sins, helped him to leave for the island of Kefalonia. You can see the perfectly preserved cell where St Dionysius lived and his personal belongings.
