A paniyiri to honour the patron saint of Zakynthos has been organised for Sydney next month.
The Zakynthian Association of NSW have organised the St Dionysios Panayiri to be held on 26 August at the Zakynthian House, 30 Croydon Street, Lakemba.
A joyous occasion of celebrating the saint with food and dance, all the while showcasing the best in Zakynthian culture and hospitality and of course the life of Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos.
The saint was born in 1547 on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Before becoming a monk his name was Draganigos Sigouros. He was educated by priests and became fluent in Greek, Italian, and Latin. He excelled in theology, became a monk in 1568, received his first degree of ordination as a priest in 1570 as Daniel; he later became hieromonk of Zakynthos and Strofades. In 1577 he was raised to Archbishop of Aegina and Poros and after a year abdicated from this dignity and settled in Zakynthos as an abbot of a monastery. In December 17, 1622 he fell asleep in the Lord. He had asked to be buried in this monastery and his grave is still to be found in the chapel of St George; a dependant of the monastery.