Agios Eleutherios Church in Athens

Greece › Athens › Things to Do › Agios Eleutherios
Updated: March 5, 2024
By Santorini Dave

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Small Byzantine church with a large cathedral in the background

Athens’ “Little Metropolis” church is located on the same central square as its grand Metropolitan Cathedral, seen here in the background.

Formally the Church of Agios Eleutherios (Saint Elefterios) or Panagia Gorgoepikoos, the “Little Metropolis” is a small Byzantine-era church located at the Mitropoleos Square in Monastiraki, right next to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

The church is built on top of the ruins of ancient temple dedicated to the goddess of childbirth and midwifery, Eileithyia, and the structure is almost entirely built of recycled stones and pieces of decorative sculptures from previous monuments. Suggested dates of the church’s construction range from the 9th century to the 13th century. Suffice to say, it’s very old.

Originally, the interior of the church was decorated entirely with frescoes. Sadly, only one of these survives today; an image of the Panagia (Mary, mother of Jesus) over the entrance.

Agios Eleutherios Hours and Information

  • Hours: 10am to 5pm daily.
  • Website: iaath.gr
  • Location: Mitroploeos Square
  • Telephone: +30 21 0322 1308
  • Admission Fee: Free entry; donations are accepted.
  • Parking: Street parking, nearby pay lots.
  • Nearest Metro: Syntagma, Monastiraki.
  • Note: modest dress is required in Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries, which means avoiding exposed 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 entering is appropriate and appreciated.

Agios Eleutherios Church in Athens

A woman sits on a low wall and checks her phone next to a small byzantine church.

Two nuns dressed in black walk toward the entrance of a small Byzantine church.

Prayer candelabra with lit candles, next to the open door of a church

View down the center aisle of a prayer screen in a small Greek church

A Greek Orthodox mosaic of the madonna and child next to a small stained glass window

Old stonework inside a small Byzantine church

Exterior entrance of a small stone church, with ornamental carvings in the frieze and around the doorway

A stone pedestrian plaza with a large ornate cathedral next to a small Byzantine church.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.