South of Kefalonia, at a distance of half a nautical mile from the shores of Livathos, the rocky isle of Zeus rises. Sharp on all sides and imposing, it has been characterized by Professor Spyros Marinato as “Marine Meteora”. The name Zeus received it, because in antiquity there was an altar of god Zeus on the rocky island. It is said that sacrifices were made at the same time with the altar of Zeus, which was at the top of Mount Ainos, hence the name Anisios. The coordination was done with the view of smoke. The rocky island of Zeus during the British domination was a place of exile for clergy for intellectual and political reasons. Many priests, on account of the measures imposed by the English, were opposed and accused of pursuing popular uprisings against the English authorities. Indeed, in a specific civil matter, which had to do with the respected chronological system of civil status acts and was the object of the church, many priests resisted.
Very powerful were the Lixuri priests who, in order to be punished, were resisted in Zeus and the Vardians. On the island of Zeus, unknown when, and by whom, was founded the small monastery of Our Lady of Blacherna. There is no record of the monastery’s buildings, just by a photo I found on the Internet, which I publish, the buildings are shown and they are explained. But is that the case? The monastery’s income was minimal and was maintained by the charity of the Christians. Monks are found, three in 1805 and three in 1889. In the early 19th century, he lived there for quite some time, an exiled priest from Zakynthos. His name was Nikolaos Kantounis. Priest Nicholas Kantounis possessed the art of hagiography, and painted the little church. The presence of the Zakynthian priest in Zeus makes us believe that the exiles were not limited only to Kefalonia, but most probably to the other Ionian Islands. Another priest, N. Dracontiadis, went to Zeus and there he sat for several months where he maintained and cared for the monastery. His own is the construction of the hundred-foot stone staircase, and the small dock. In 1867, after a terrible earthquake, the monastery suffered great damage. Then the Lixuriotis Priest N. Dracontiadis, appealed to Metropolitan Spyridon Kontomovihalos and asked for his help for his repair. Following the priest’s urging, the Metropolitan sent the housekeeper, priest Makarios Fragato, to collect help to repair the damage.
Sources: Spyros Matiatos History of Kefalonia & Ithaca
Kusini mwa Kefalonia, umbali wa nusu maili ya baharini kutoka pwani ya Livathos, kisiwa chenye miamba cha Zeu kinatokea. Kwa kuwa ni mkali pande zote na wenye kuvutia, Profesa Spyros Marinato ameiita "Meteor ya Baharini". Jina Zeu lilipokea, kwa sababu katika nyakati za kale kulikuwa na madhabahu ya mungu Zeu kwenye kisiwa hicho cha miamba. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""dhabihu"" hizo zilitolewa wakati uleule kwenye madhabahu ya Zeu iliyokuwa juu ya Mlima Aenoni, na hivyo jina la Anisios lilitokana na madhabahu hiyo." Uratibu huo ulifanywa kwa mtazamo wa moshi. Kisiwa cha Zeus kilichokuwa na miamba wakati wa utawala wa Uingereza kilikuwa mahali pa uhamisho kwa makasisi kwa sababu za kiakili na kisiasa. Kwa sababu ya hatua zilizowekwa na Waingereza, makasisi wengi walipingwa na kushtakiwa kwa kuendeleza mapinduzi ya watu dhidi ya mamlaka ya Waingereza. Kwa kweli, katika jambo fulani la kiraia, ambalo lilihusiana na mfumo wa wakati ulioheshimiwa wa sheria za hali ya kiraia na ambalo lilikuwa jambo la kanisa, makasisi wengi walipinga. "Wakuu wa Lixuri walikuwa na nguvu sana, na ili kuadhibiwa, walishindana na Zeu na Wardi.""" Katika kisiwa cha Zeus, haijulikani ni lini, na na nani, ilianzishwa makao madogo ya watawa ya Mama Yetu wa Blacherna. Hakuna rekodi ya majengo ya makao ya watawa, tu kwa picha niliyopata kwenye mtandao, ambayo ninachapisha, majengo yanaonyeshwa na yanaelezwa. Lakini je, ndivyo ilivyo? Mapato ya makao ya watawa yalikuwa madogo sana na yalihifadhiwa na misaada ya Wakristo. Miongoni mwao ni watawa watatu waliopatikana mwaka 1805 na wengine watatu mwaka 1889. Katika karne ya 19 na 20, alisafiri kwa muda mrefu kutoka Zakynthos. Jina lake lilikuwa Nikolaos Kantounis. Kasisi Nicholas Kantounis alikuwa na sanaa ya hagiography, na kupakwa rangi kanisa ndogo. Uwepo wa mtawa wa Zakynthos katika Zeus unatufanya tuamini kwamba uhamisho haukuhusishwa tu na Kefalonia, lakini labda kwa Visiwa vingine vya Ionia. Mtakatifu N. Dracontiades, ambaye alikuwa mtawa wa zamani wa Zeus, alitumikia katika makao ya watawa. Yeye mwenyewe ndiye aliyejenga ngazi ya mawe yenye urefu wa meta mia moja, na bandari ndogo. Mnamo mwaka wa 1867, tetemeko kubwa la ardhi lilipiga makao ya watawa. Kisha Kasisi wa Lixuriotis N. Dracontiadis, alimkabili Metropolitan Spyridon Kontomovihalos na kumwomba amsaidie kurekebisha nyumba yake. Kwa kufuata mwito wa kasisi, Metropolitan alimtuma msimamizi wa nyumba, kasisi Makarios Fragato, kukusanya msaada wa kurekebisha uharibifu huo. Vyanzo: Spyros Matiatos Historia ya Kefalonia na Ithaca