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Home Anna's Blog Dr. Christian Barnard left his heart at the tiny church yard of Farsa’s Saint Friday!

Dr. Christian Barnard left his heart at the tiny church yard of Farsa’s Saint Friday!

by Sarah O August 8, 2020
1,067 views

On the 25th of July (the eve of the St. Friday) celebrations are held in the tiny church at Farsa beach.

The church was built slowly, with donations from the villagers, on the site of a family church that was started but never completed over 200 years ago and was consequently destroyed by war and earthquakes. The village president of the time, Angelo Benetatos, decided to clean the place up and he left an icon of St Friday and an incense holder on the site with a note saying that harm would befall the family of whoever damages the icon.

From that day forward the villagers prayed at the icon after they had been swimming. The president began publishing a little newspaper and sponsorship and donations began to be sent including from Greek Americans and others abroad. The president declared that the locals should not pay for decorative wreaths at funerals but should instead donate the money to build the church, develop the surrounding area and the beach.

The locals started to visit the church and Saint Friday celebrations began each year. This year we visited the church during restricted St Friday services, held outdoors because of Covid-19 but nevertheless still popular with the villagers.

The same man, Angelo Benetatos (the captain of a 3.000 person cruise ship, see photo) met the famous heart surgeon Christian Barnard who was on a sailing holiday in Rhodes/Kos and called him to the ship he was sailing. The doctor, his wife Karen and their child visited the ship and they had dinner together. During the dinner Angelo Benetatos convinced the doctor to come join him on his trip even though he had a full schedule. When Benetatos called the owner of the ship he was very happy to have Barnard on board and then for a week in every port people arrived to take photos, and the doctor even held conferences for the people on the ship regarding heart health. He stayed for two weeks in the end. When Benetatos retired as captain and then president of the village he called the doctor to make him a citizen. Barnard came for two weeks and planted a tree with a musical accompaniment from the villagers. The doctor returned to Farsa twice more before he died.

This tree together with a sign can be found in the square of the church yard, where the celebrations have taken place, until now.

EDIT: Friends tell me that access to the beach is temporarily blocked by a fallen tree. This post was published just a few days before the cyclone Janos hit Kefalonia. sadly the tree is no longer there but we are leaving the post as it is in remembrance. 

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Kefalonia by Anna
  • Home
    • Who we are
    • Kefalonia by Anna services
  • Explore
    • Travel Guides
      • Kefalonia
      • Argostoli (Central)
      • Paliki (West)
      • Livathos (South)
      • Pylaros (North-Central)
      • Ainos Mountain & Omala
      • Sami (East)
      • Elios Pronnoi (South East)
      • Erissos (North)
    • Explore Kefalonia by map
    • Short History
    • Useful Info & FAQs
    • More tips
  • Accommodation
    • Villas
    • Houses, apartments, rooms and camping
  • Itineraries
    • Book an Experience in Kefalonia
    • Self-Guided Tours
    • Excursions beyond Kefalonia
  • Things to do
    • Boats & Yachts
    • Sports
    • Walking, Riding & Cycling
    • Festivals, Events & Workshops
    • Kids & Family
    • Weddings
    • Services
    • Other
  • Attractions
    • Beaches Churches & Monasteries Flora and Fauna Historical Sights Museums Natural Sights Villages All
      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Mounda and Kaminia Beaches

      October 5, 2019

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Ammes Beach

      May 7, 2019

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Ai Helis Beach, Svoronata

      October 3, 2018

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Porto Atheras Beach, Paliki Peninsula

      September 24, 2018

      Churches & Monasteries

      The Monastery of the Holy Virgin, Lamia

      September 30, 2020

      Churches & Monasteries

      Virgin Mary Drapaniotissa Celebrations

      September 23, 2019

      Churches & Monasteries

      Saint Gerasimos Cave, Lassi

      May 7, 2019

      Churches & Monasteries

      St. John Chrysostom little church at Vari, Erissos

      September 16, 2018

      Flora and Fauna

      Fauna in Kefalonia

      March 23, 2020

      Flora and Fauna

      Flora in Kefalonia

      February 25, 2020

      Flora and Fauna

      Megas Soros, the highest peak of the Ionian…

      February 23, 2020

      Flora and Fauna

      Semi-Wild Horses of Ainos

      February 3, 2020

      Historical Sights

      Harakas Bridge, Myrtos

      March 3, 2020

      Historical Sights

      Exhibition at Fiskardo’s renovated Venetian Lighthouse – “Faros”

      September 13, 2019

      Historical Sights

      Nikos Kavadias Statue, Argostoli

      June 7, 2019

      Historical Sights

      Lithostroto and Bell Tower Square (Kabana)

      June 6, 2019

      Museums

      Memas Kalogiratos Permanent Sculpture Exhibition, Mazarakata

      February 29, 2020

      Museums

      Embroideries, lace and needlework – Harokopio Foundation

      November 24, 2019

      Museums

      Kotsanas Museum Of Ancient Greek Technology, Argostoli

      June 16, 2019

      Museums

      Lithostroto and Bell Tower Square (Kabana)

      June 6, 2019

      Natural Sights

      Megas Soros, the highest peak of the Ionian…

      February 23, 2020

      Natural Sights

      Vista Points

      January 28, 2020

      Natural Sights

      Sea Turtles

      November 5, 2019

      Natural Sights

      Melissani Lake

      October 7, 2018

      Villages

      Makriotika Village

      May 2, 2019

      Villages

      Colourful Villages of Livathos

      May 3, 2018

      Villages

      Old Farsa Village, Argostoli

      February 19, 2018

      Villages

      Old Vlachata Village, Sami

      February 12, 2018

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      The Monastery of the Holy Virgin, Lamia

      September 30, 2020

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Fauna in Kefalonia

      March 23, 2020

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Harakas Bridge, Myrtos

      March 3, 2020

      Attractions of Kefalonia

      Memas Kalogiratos Permanent Sculpture Exhibition, Mazarakata

      February 29, 2020

  • Food & Local Products
    • Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
    • Local products
    • Kefalonian Wine
    • Food Experiences, Cooking Lessons and Private Chefs
    • Kefalonian Recipes
    • Crafts
  • Blogs
    • Anna’s Blog

      My rock & me

      April 25, 2022

      Anna’s Blog

      Island Hopping

      March 28, 2022

      Anna’s Blog

      Summer 2022 is on the way! Book your…

      March 18, 2022

      Anna’s Blog

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    • Anna’s Blog
    • Sarah’s Blog