All about Zakynthos

Agia Varvara was located in the suburb of Kipoi and was founded by the priest Konstantinos Krokos in the early 18th century. Not far from it there was a monastery given in 1744 by the priest Marinos Krokos as a sanctuary for virtuous women dedicated to monasticism. Saint Barbara is worshipped in Zakynthos as a patroness against smallpox. When in 1795 this disease plagued the island, the Venetian Senate allowed by decree (March 26, 1795), to have a procession of her image in the city. The church contained remarkable woodcarvings, portable icons and silver sculptures of various periods and styles. The exquisite icon of St. John the Baptist, the work of Apostle Krezia, is memorable. Also the large icon of the Virgin Mary on a throne, the work of an unknown 18th century artist, is now located in the Archbishop's Palace of Zakynthos. The cathedra of Agia Barbara is the work of Spyros Io. The church of the Virgin Mary is the work of Spiros Tortorelis. In 1893 the church was destroyed by earthquakes, later it was restored brighter until August 1953, when it was destroyed yet by another earthquake.