Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Syntagma
Perhaps the best place to get your bearings is Syntagma Square, crowned by the imposing Parliament building on its upper side and surrounded by other large structures, such as the exclusive Hotel Grande Bretagne. The grand avenues that lead towards Omonia are also full of massive Neoclassical edifices like the Numismatic Museum and those around smaller Platia Kolokotroni. Here you will find lots of travel agents, bookshops and fashion shops, especially on Ermou Street. Just south of Syntagma Square, you can take a breather in the lush National Gardens, which extend into the grounds of the Zappeio palace and beyond to the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus.
How to get there
- Monastiraki • 5 min walk
- Syntagma • 7 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
418 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
178
Average
93
Poor
13
Terrible
1
Mairwen1
United Kingdom9,314 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This relatively modern cathedral (1862) does not have the charm of so many of Athens’ smaller, old-world churches.
The facade is imposing but, apart from large, colourful mosaic which runs across the top of the colonnaded portico, it is a little bland.
However inside, it’s quite magnificent. The interior is all marble columns and arches. Every surface is covered with paintings of the saints and highly decorative patterning in gold and rich shades of blue. A soaring dome measures 24-metres in height.
An ornate silver casket caught my eye. This is the tomb-like reliquary for the bones of St Philothei who was martyred in 1589. She was a remarkable woman who is remembered for her fight against human trafficking. Married at 14 to an abusive man and widowed at 17, she became a nun and undertook to rescue Greek women who’d been enslaved in Ottoman harems. Putting aside her own safety, she paid ransoms and bribes to buy back their freedom and provided a safe haven to those who escaped on their own. This eventually brought her to the attention of the Ottoman authorities and she was imprisoned and later beaten so severely that she suffered a long, slow death over several months.
A small museum is located down in the crypt (3€) but we didn’t see any sign at the time so we missed out on this.
Other points of interest while you are here are the tiny, little 12th century church of Agios Eleftherios, next to the cathedral, and the two statues in the square out the front of the cathedral. One celebrates the Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou, and the other is of Constantine XI (see separate reviews).
Entry to the Cathedral is free.
The facade is imposing but, apart from large, colourful mosaic which runs across the top of the colonnaded portico, it is a little bland.
However inside, it’s quite magnificent. The interior is all marble columns and arches. Every surface is covered with paintings of the saints and highly decorative patterning in gold and rich shades of blue. A soaring dome measures 24-metres in height.
An ornate silver casket caught my eye. This is the tomb-like reliquary for the bones of St Philothei who was martyred in 1589. She was a remarkable woman who is remembered for her fight against human trafficking. Married at 14 to an abusive man and widowed at 17, she became a nun and undertook to rescue Greek women who’d been enslaved in Ottoman harems. Putting aside her own safety, she paid ransoms and bribes to buy back their freedom and provided a safe haven to those who escaped on their own. This eventually brought her to the attention of the Ottoman authorities and she was imprisoned and later beaten so severely that she suffered a long, slow death over several months.
A small museum is located down in the crypt (3€) but we didn’t see any sign at the time so we missed out on this.
Other points of interest while you are here are the tiny, little 12th century church of Agios Eleftherios, next to the cathedral, and the two statues in the square out the front of the cathedral. One celebrates the Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou, and the other is of Constantine XI (see separate reviews).
Entry to the Cathedral is free.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AQUALUNA1
Singapore, Singapore811 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
In between the squares of Syntagma and Monastiraki in Athens lies the Metropolitan Cathedral - or Mitropoli Athinon as locals refer to it. Dedicated to the Annunciation of Virgin Mary, it's also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation.
Beautiful church exterior and interior. Worth a visit if you are around the area. Crowds start come in late morning so be there early if you want get nice pictures.
Beautiful church exterior and interior. Worth a visit if you are around the area. Crowds start come in late morning so be there early if you want get nice pictures.
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Evans P
Chambersburg, PA80 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
The Annunciation Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. The iconography is superb. The church holds the the remains of two martyred saints, Patriarch St. Gregory V and St Philothei.
Sunday liturgy is at 8:00 AM.
Sunday liturgy is at 8:00 AM.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andyh67186334
Coalville, UK6,814 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
I was staying nearby the cathedral, and as I walked everywhere in Athens, I passed by the building every day.
It is a modern cathedral compared to other religious buildings in the city, but the real beauty is the interior with beautiful paintings and mosaics. it's free to enter but there are ropes in place when a service is not taking place.
It is a modern cathedral compared to other religious buildings in the city, but the real beauty is the interior with beautiful paintings and mosaics. it's free to enter but there are ropes in place when a service is not taking place.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FactotumDellaCitta
London, UK3,837 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
This 19th-century cathedral has been extensively renovated and is now in great shape. It overlooks a wide square.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy R
Brooklyn, NY14 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This cathedral is absolutely stunning! It is surrounded by little shops and cafés where you can spend the day and get some shade from the hot sun. You can also see the walls of the old historical site and the interior is mesmerizing, glass windows, silver and gold pictures and plaques definitely a must see! Use your Google maps to get there by foot in touristy Plaka!
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AvidTraveler12
Winchester, UK1,814 contributions
Apr 2023
Located in a busy shopping area is the cathedral. It is not large or that old but is nicely decorated and worth walking around.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naija M
Algiers, Algeria646 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
I came across this church by accident as I wondered around Athens one afternoon. It’s fairly small inside but there is a downstairs museum which you can enter for a modest fee.
Written 27 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B T
London, UK1,194 contributions
Nov 2022
It's a nice cathedral. Inside there is a museum downstairs for 3E, it has old church relics, books and robes. The museum was ok, not spectacular.
Written 12 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luke M
8 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This was absolutely breathtaking. The artwork, the atmosphere, and history were so amazing, I almost got emotional when we visited. I can't recommend visiting this enough.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lonetraveler50
Ray, MI37 contributions
What are the Sunday mass times?
Naija M
Algiers, Algeria646 contributions
I’m sorry, I don’t know. I was in Athens from Monday to Friday.
What time are the Sunday services
Roger L
Farnham242 contributions
Sorry I did not attend mass
Manuela_Blondy
Reggio Emilia, Italy68 contributions
Sai dirmi orari di apertura? eventuali costi e quanto tempo serve per vederla? grazie mille
Manuela_Blondy
Reggio Emilia, Italy68 contributions
mi sai dire orari di apertura? costi? e quanto tempo in media serve per visitarla?
DominoVictor
Catania, Italy3,268 contributions
Ciao,dovrebbe essere aperta dalle 07,00 alle 19,00 salvo se c'è qualche funzione speciale...io sono entrato senza pagare l'accesso era libero,per il tempo dipende da te...puoi perdere 30 minuti o un paio d'ore al massimo.
Maria José C
1 contribution
Quais os Horários ?
heckmann17183
Porto Alegre, RS15,153 contributions
As 8:20 do domingo os sinos estavam tocando para o ritual religioso. As 16:00 a igreja estava aberta, entramos , sentamos e apreciamos
HichamGM
Broummana, Lebanon84 contributions
hi guys. anyone knows the hours of the masses and the prayers at the cathedral? can i assist to a mass during the week. or is there any other church to pray in during the week. thanks.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
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