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The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, commonly known as Metropolis or Mitropoli, is located on Mitropoleos Square in Monastiraki.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Metropolitan Cathedral Museum
The Metropolitan Cathedral Museum displays rare and valuable ecclesiastical items in the crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.
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 June 2023).
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.
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.
In the center of the main gallery is a baptismal font. On the near end are vestments worn by different Archbishops of Athens.
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.
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.
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.
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.
