See Also
- Top-Rated Lodgings in Athens
- Places to Stay in Athens
- Top Dining Spots in Athens
- Prime Activities to Enjoy in Athens
- Complete Athens Travel Guide
The principal place of worship for all Greek Orthodox Churches in Greece, known as both The Mitropolis and the leading metropolitan church of Athens, is the magnificent domed basilica devoted to the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary. This beautifully architectural structure took two decades to design and build, culminating in completion in 1862; much of the building material used came from seventy-two demolished Byzantine places of prayer.
Within the church are the burial sites of two martyrs killed during the Ottoman era: Patriarch Gregory V and Saint Philothei. Patriarch Gregory V participated in the Greek uprising leading to the Greek War of Independence (March 25) against the Ottoman Empire. Saint Philothei is honored for liberating Greek women enslaved in the Ottoman Empire’s harems; her previous home, just a couple of blocks away, is now a museum. There is also a small museum in the cathedral’s basement displaying religious treasures and artifacts.
As a chief spiritual center of the modern Greek Orthodox Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral was site of many important rites like christenings, funerals and royal weddings. Adjacent in the same square is the smaller 12th century Romanesque and Byzantine church of Agios Eleftherios.
Metropolitan Cathedral Hours and Information
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 5:30am to 7:30pm. Church services are held on Sundays between 8:30am and 10:30am.
- Website: iaath.gr
- Location: Mitroploeos Square
- Telephone: +30 21 0335 2380
- Admission Fee: Free; donations can be made at the door to enter and to light a candle. Museum entrance is €3.
- Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lots.
- Nearest Metro Connection: Syntagma, Monastiraki.
- Notice: modest dress is essential in Greek Orthodox places of worship and holy places, which implies avoiding uncovered knees and shoulders for both women and men. If you’re wearing shorts, a short skirt, or a tank top, covering up with a wrap before going in is suitable and appreciated.
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation
