Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

The Annunciation Cathedral (Greek Καθεδρικός Ναός Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου Kathedrikós Naos tis Evangelismou Theotókou, colloquially usually short Mitropolis, Greek Μητρόπολις called ) in Athens is the seat of the Orthodox Archbishop of Athens. It is located in the city center between the Acropolis and Syntagma Square.

History

After the Greek revolution 1830/32 part of modern Greece from the Ottoman Empire became independent. Otto of Bavaria was determined to be king of the new Kingdom of Greece. Already in 1833, the Orthodox church in the country for autocephalous, that is legally separate from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople Opel said. As part of a comprehensive building program, which was to carry petrol in the new capital, and that was determined by its classical Greece Ideal, also began the planning of a new cathedral for the capital of the re-established after nearly 400 years of occupation of the Greek state. The foundation was laid the king in 1842. On May 21, 1862 it was consecrated in the presence of the royal couple.

The building was damaged due to lack of building during the earthquake of 1999, it is supported since then and is scaffolded. The rehabilitation and rectification of building defects to be completed by 2013.

Right next to the church is the Panagia Gorgoepikoos, also called Little Mitropolis, a Byzantine church dating from the 13th century with numerous ancient spolia.

Architecture

The Annunciation cathedral was designed by Theophil Hansen in a mixed Romanesque- Renaissance - Byzantine style. After Hansen Athens had left, his designs by the Greek architect Dimitrios Zesos have been modified in a " Greek-Byzantine " style. Involved in the execution were François Boulanger and Panagiotis Kalkos. Building material is marble, which was collected from 72 destroyed churches.

The Cathedral Basilica follows the scheme with three-aisled nave, transept, choir and apse. The transept is crowned by a dome byzantinisierende. The front portal is flanked by two bell towers.

Equipment

The interior is richly decorated with frescoes, icons and stone carvings whose style leans against the Byzantine canon. Important sanctuaries are the shrines of the holy Philothea († 1589 ) and the Patriarch Gregory V († 1821), who are venerated as martyrs for the freedom of Greece and Orthodoxy.