Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens tickets: which one to buy

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, known as the Mitropoli, stands on Mitropoleos Square between Syntagma and Monastiraki, and entry is free. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, and it is used for state funerals, weddings and major religious ceremonies. Walking tours of central Athens pass the square, usually on the way between the Parliament and the Plaka or Monastiraki flea market, and they point out the tiny Byzantine church standing beside the cathedral, which is older and more interesting architecturally.

Both can be visited in a few minutes. Dress modestly. The cathedral was closed for a long period of restoration and has since reopened; hours can be limited, especially during services. The square is a pleasant open space with cafes around it. The Little Metropolis is often locked, but its carved exterior is the part worth seeing and is always visible. Mitropoleos Street, which runs to the square from Syntagma, is lined with shops selling religious objects and icons.

Visiting Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens: what to see

The cathedral was built between 1842 and 1862, soon after Greek independence, on the site of an older monastery. Several architects worked on it, including Theophil Hansen, who designed other major buildings in Athens, and Dimitrios Zezos, and it was built with marble taken from dozens of demolished churches. The result is a large three-aisled basilica with a dome, in a mixture of Byzantine and neoclassical styles. The interior is decorated with frescoes, icons and chandeliers, and it holds the relics of two saints killed by the Ottomans: Saint Philothei, an Athenian nun, and Patriarch Gregory V, hanged in Constantinople in 1821.

Statues of both stand outside. Beside the cathedral, the small twelfth-century church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos, known as the Little Metropolis, is built almost entirely of reused ancient and Byzantine carved marble, making it a museum of sculpture in miniature. The interior walls carry large painted icons in a style influenced by nineteenth-century Western European painting rather than Byzantine tradition. A marble statue of Archbishop Damaskinos, who protected Jews during the German occupation, stands on the square.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, though services and ceremonies can restrict visits. Mornings are the quietest time. Athens is hot in summer, especially in July and August; spring and autumn are the best seasons. Greek Orthodox Easter is the most important festival, and on the night of Holy Saturday the square fills with worshippers holding candles for the midnight Resurrection service, followed by fireworks. Epiphany in January and national holidays bring official ceremonies.

The Plaka district and the Monastiraki market are a few minutes' walk away. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral and the Little Metropolis, and look closely at the carved stones on the small church. The flea market streets around Monastiraki are busiest on Sunday mornings, when antique dealers set up stalls. Evening is pleasant on the square, when the cafes fill and the Acropolis is lit above the rooftops.