By Nicolas Bard

The Strofades, or the crankshafts as they call them, are a cluster of islands from two small islands in the Ionian Sea, which are just 27 nautical miles from the cape of Geraki of Zakynthos. Their area is 2.6 square kilometers and there one can go by boat either from Zakynthos or from Katakolo Ilia. The largest and southernmost of the two islands is called Stamfani and the smallest harp. The Strofades are known for their great natural beauty, lush vegetation and rare species of migratory birds they host, but also for their multifaceted history. These islands are part of the Zakynthos Marine Park and once regarded as the most fertile in Greece, and there are many cedars scattered throughout them.

According to mythology, when Arpia Okthyon was hunting for the sons of North, Ziti and Kalai, reaching over the islands, they changed direction by returning to meet the Argonauts. Thus the islands were called Strofades. It is, of course, folk etymology based on words of words. The island prevailed and prevailed in some times of stormy winds in the form of a tornado, which the ancients identified with the phrase “Apella”.

On the island of Stamfanis there is also a 25 -meter -high iconic castromonastastiros dedicated to Our Lady of “Panton Hara” and Saint Dionysius.

Tradition says that the monastery was built in 1241 by the Empress of Byzantine Irene. Emperor John the Palaiologos renovated the monastery around 1440. The cathedral of the monastery, the church of the Divine Transfiguration, is located in the monastery’s tower, which is unique to the Orthodox monastery. In 1530 (or 1538), the monastery was attacked by the Saracens, when the monastery’s fathers were slaughtered. After this calamity, the monastery slowly begins to be manned again. Saint Dionysius once lived there. Those who manage to reach the island will see the empty tomb of St. Dionysius and the historic monastery that still stands up, despite the damage of time and the intense seismic activity of the area.

Around 1717 the monastery was looted by Muslim pirates and some of his relics were found to be sold in Asia Minor. At that time, some patmies bought the honored image of Our Lady “All Hara” and after transporting it to Patmos, they called on a hagiographer to depict it in the fresco in the church of St. Basil. They then sent her back to her house to Strofades. Above the bells of the monastery is Virgin Mary and scenes from monastic life. The second and smaller island of Arpia is located north and is separated by Stamfani with dangerously shallow, hiding in the scenes and reefs.

In Strofades there is an impressive and highly picturesque lighthouse. It was built in 1829 in the largest of the two islands of the Strofades complex by English engineers hired by the Ionian Ionian state. Its tower is a square cross -section and its height reaches 11 meters. It has a focal height of 39 meters and is located on the northwestern coast of the Stamfani Island of Strofades. It was incorporated into the Greek Lighthouse Network in 1864, after the annexation of the Ionian Islands to Greece. At the top of the tower there are solar panels, which power its mechanism with energy, and next to the tower stands the ruined residence of the lighters. This building complex belongs to the Navy Lighthouse Service. The sunset from this point on the island is magical!