The Cathedral of Athens

The Cathedral of Athens (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) was built between 1842 and 1862. Many architects contributed to the construction of the church, including Hansen, Zezos, Boulanger and Calcos. It is noteworthy that materials from ruined or demolished Byzantine churches for archaeological reasons were used as building materials and decorative elements.

The architectural style of the church is a cruciform three-aisled basilica with a dome. Many artists also worked on the exterior and especially the interior decoration of the church. It is located on the homonymous street, just a few hundred meters from Syntagma. And since it was officially designated as the city’s cathedral, many religious ceremonies have been held in its premises: weddings of kings, funerals of important persons of the political and social life of the country, etc.

After the 1999 earthquake and up to the present day, the church has been undergoing repair and maintenance work. In its place, as the cathedral of the city, is used Agios Dionysios in Kolonaki.

Finally, inside the church the visitor can see the marble urns where the bones of Agia Filothei and Patriarch Gregory V are kept.