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TheMetropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation (Greek:Καθεδρικός Ναός Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου,romanized: Kathedrikós Naós Evangelismoú tisTheotókou), popularly known as theMetropolis orMitropoli (Greek:Μητρόπολη,romanized: Mitrópoli), is thecathedral church of theArchbishopric of Athens and all ofGreece.
Construction of the cathedral began on Christmas Day, 1842 with the laying of the cornerstone byKing Otto andQueen Amalia. Construction started under the architectTheophil Hansen and was continued by Dimitris Zezos,Panagis Kalkos and François Boulanger.
Workers used marble from 72 demolished churches to build the cathedral's immense walls. Three architects and 20 years later, it was completed. On 21 May 1862, the completed cathedral was dedicated to theAnnunciation of the Mother of God (Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου) by the King and Queen. The cathedral is a three-aisled, domedbasilica that measures 130 feet (40 m) long, 65 feet (20 m) wide, and 80 feet (24 m) high. Inside are the tombs of two saints killed by theOttoman Turks during the Ottoman period:Saint Philothei andPatriarch Gregory V.
To the immediate south of the cathedral is the littleChurch of St. Eleftherios also called the "Little Mitropoli".
In the Mitropoleos Square in front of the cathedral stand two statues. The first is that ofConstantine XI, the last emperor of theEastern Roman Empire. The second is a statue ofArchbishop Damaskinos who was Archbishop of Athens during World War II and wasRegent forKing George II andPrime Minister of Greece in 1946.
The Metropolitan Cathedral remains a major landmark in Athens and the site of important ceremonies with national political figures present, as well as weddings and funerals of notable personalities.
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