The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Greece › Athens › Things to Do › Metropolitan Cathedral
Updated: March 4, 2024
By Santorini Dave

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view of the plaza and main entrance of Athens Metropolitan Cathedral on a sunny day

The Greek Orthodox Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary is located in the Monastiraki neighborhood in central Athens.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary (Also known as The Mitropolis, or Metropolitan church of Athens) is the main cathedral of all the Greek Orthodox Churches in Greece and home church of the Archbishop of Athens. This beautiful domed basilica took 20 years to design and construct, and was completed in 1862; much of the structure was built using marble from 72 demolished Byzantine churches.

Inside the church are the tombs of two martyred saints killed during the Ottoman period: Patriarch Gregory V and Saint Philothei. Patriarch Gregory V was involved in the Greek uprising leading to the Greek War of Independence (March 25) against the Ottoman Empire. Saint Philothei is honored for freeing Greek women enslaved in the Ottoman Empires’s harems; her former 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 one of the modern Greek Church’s most important spiritual centers, the Metropolitan Cathedral regularly played host to the christenings, funerals, and weddings of Greek royals, as well as other significant rites and ceremonies. Right next to the Cathedral, within in the same square, is the smaller 12th-century Romanesque and Byzantine church of Agios Eleftherios.

Metropolitan Cathedral Hours and Information

  • Hours: 5:30am to 7:30pm daily. Mass is held on Sundays between 8:30 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: 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.

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation

Exterior of the Athens Cathedral on a sunny day

Plaza and exterior of the Athens Cathedral on a sunny day

Central aisle of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Ornately decorated dome of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

View of the left nave of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Ornately decorated ceiling of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

View of the right-hand nave of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Colorful stained glass windows in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Lit prayer candles in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

The small cathedral sitting next to the larger Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

View of a marble pedestrian square, looking out from the front steps of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

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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.