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The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, commonly known as Metropolis or Mitropoli, is located on Mitropoleos Square in Monastiraki.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens in Monastiraki, Athens, Greece
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Rear of the Metropolitan Cathedral

 

Introduction to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation (Καθεδρικός Ναός Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου), the church is the seat of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. It often hosts important ceremonies as well as the weddings and funerals of important Athenians. There’s also a small museum in the crypt.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Doors


 

Architecture of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Construction on the church started on Christmas Day in 1842 under Danish architect Theophil Hansen (1813-1891), with King Otto and Queen Amalia laying the cornerstone. It was dedicated on May 21, 1862. Marble from 72 demolished churches was used to build its walls.

Mosaic above the entrance
Marble lions guarding the steps to the Metropolitan Cathedral on Mitropoleos Square in Athens, Greece
Marble lions guarding the steps to the Metropolitan Cathedral

The cathedral is 130 feet (40 meters) long, 65 feet (20 meters) wide, and 80 feet (24 meters) high. It contains three aisles and is topped by a dome.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens in Monastiraki, Athens, Greece
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Looking towards the left aisle

 

Tomb of Patriarch Gregory V

On the right aisle is the tomb of Gregory V (1746-1821), the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. He was hung at the gates of the Patriarchate after Easter Sunday services on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II in 1821 for not suppressing the Greek Revolution. His body was dragged around the streets and thrown into the Golden Horn by a Jewish mob. It was recovered by Greek sailors who took to Odessa, and it was later moved to Athens.

Tomb of Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V at the Metropolitan Cathedral on Mitropoleos Square in Athens, Greece
Tomb of Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V

 

Relics of Saint Philothei

The relics of Saint Philothei (1522-1589), born Revoula Benizelou into a noble family from Constantinople (now Istanbul), are on the left aisle. She was forced into marriage at the age of 14, widowed at 17, and took up monastic life at the age of 29. She was well known for ransoming Greek women held captive in the Ottoman harem. Saint Philothei also provided shelter to slaves and unfortunate Muslim women who often converted to Christianity. This led to her imprisonment and a severe beating at the hands of the Ottomans on October 3, 1588, leaving her bedridden until her death four months later. Her family home, the Benizelos Mansion, is located a few blocks away in Plaka and is probably the oldest surviving house in Athens.

Relics of Saint Philothei at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens in Monastiraki, Athens, Greece
Relics of Saint Philothei


 

Metropolitan Cathedral Museum

The Metropolitan Cathedral Museum displays rare and valuable ecclesiastical items in the crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Metropolitan Cathedral Museum

The museum opened on January 19, 2020, and was developed with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The inauguration was attended by Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos and Archbishop Ieronymos II.

 

Visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum

The entrance to the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum is just inside the cathedral to the left. Admission is 3€ (as of April 2024).

 

Church Origins

The very first room after walking down the stairs contains historical items directly related to the origins of the church. The most interesting items on display are the first throne of the Metropolitan Cathedral, Hierarchical Synod chamber desks, and a silver liturgical tray gifted by the Queen Amalia. All three artifacts date to 1862.

First throne of the Metropolitan Cathedral
First throne of the Metropolitan Cathedral
Hierarchical Synod chamber desks at the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Hierarchical Synod chamber desks
Silver liturgical tray
Silver liturgical tray

 

Divine Liturgy and Personal Items of Bishops

In the main gallery are glass cases containing items related to the Divine Liturgy, including 19th century silver bound Gospels. There are also items belonging to different Archbishops of Athens and other Greek Orthodox Metropolitans who served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens in some capacity.

Silver bound Gospels
Crown, engolpion, and staff belonging to Archbishop Christodolous (1939-2008)
Crown, engolpion, and staff belonging to Archbishop Christodolous (1939-2008)
Items belonging to different Greek Orthodox Metropolitans who served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Items belonging to different Greek Orthodox Metropolitans who served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

In the center of the main gallery is a baptismal font. On the near end are vestments worn by different Archbishops of Athens.

Baptismal font at the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Baptismal font
Baptismal font
Vestments
Vestments
Vestments at the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Vestments

Finally, one of the most beautiful and interesting items is a hand-stitched epitaph with gold thread. The inscription reads:

This Holy Epitaph is dedicated to the Holy Metropolis of the City of Athens from the comopolis (rural city) of Koukouli of Zagoriou, in the Eparchy of loannina the birth place of Comiss Alexios Plakidis in his memory, his parents and relatives. 1847. Vienna.

Epitaph


 

Donations to the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum

Next, a small section to the left of the main gallery contains donations to the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum. They include 19th century crosses and icons in the Russian style; silver wedding crowns dated December 1899; 19th century wooden blessing crosses; and patents and asterisks from the Greek community of Calcutta, India, in the early 20th century.

Russian-style crosses and icons
Russian-style crosses and icons
Wedding crowns
Wedding crowns
Blessing crosses
Blessing crosses
Items from the Greek community of Calcutta at the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Items from the Greek community of Calcutta

 

Altar

In the altar of the crypt are items related to the saints interred in the Metropolitan Cathedral, Saint Philothei and Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V. These include reliquaries holding their remains.

Altar
Relics of Saint Philothei
Relics of Patriarch Gregory V
Relics of Patriarch Gregory V

 

Thrones

Finally, to the right of the altar are the thrones used during the coronation of the King and Queen of Greece, starting with King George I in 1863.

Thrones at the Metropolitan Cathedral Museum at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece
Thrones

 

Map with the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

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