If you found a holiday rental in Patras and followed the advice of our previous article to hike the nearby mountain range of Panachaiko, you might have spotted a beautiful dome towering over the rest of the city's skyline. This charming building is the Cathedral of St Andrew in Patras and is a 19th century beauty that is well worth a visit, should you find yourself exploring this incredible city.
A small church was originally erected on site between 1836 and 1843 on the spot where Apostle Andrew died a martyr under architect Lyssandros Kaftantzoglou. Inside the building is Andrew's tomb and his relics were initially housed there too until they were transferred, first to Constantinople and then Rome. However, in the 60s, as a gesture of good will to the people of the city, the saint's skull and finger were returned to his resting place.
A small church was originally erected on site between 1836 and 1843 on the spot where Apostle Andrew died a martyr under architect Lyssandros Kaftantzoglou. Inside the building is Andrew's tomb and his relics were initially housed there too until they were transferred, first to Constantinople and then Rome. However, in the 60s, as a gesture of good will to the people of the city, the saint's skull and finger were returned to his resting place.
The large, magnificent building is the second church on the site, a Byzantine beauty that was founded in 1908 by King George I and then inaugurated in 1974 by Bishop Nikodimos. It is the largest church in the Balkans and one of the biggest in all of Europe. Constructed under architect Anastasioa Metaxas and then Georgios Nomikos, after Metaxas' death in 1937, it is presided over by the incredible 46m central dome, topped with a 5m gold-plated cross and twelve smaller ones (symbols of Christ and the Apostles).
With a capacity of 5,500 persons, this space is immense is filled with beautiful religious objects, wall and ceiling paintings and much more besides. It is an incredible artistic gem (as is the fresco-covered jewel box that is the smaller church) and a real must-see attraction for any art and culture lovers exploring this amazing city in Greece.
With a capacity of 5,500 persons, this space is immense is filled with beautiful religious objects, wall and ceiling paintings and much more besides. It is an incredible artistic gem (as is the fresco-covered jewel box that is the smaller church) and a real must-see attraction for any art and culture lovers exploring this amazing city in Greece.
Photo credits
picture 3: Michael Paraskevas / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 3: Michael Paraskevas / CC BY-SA 3.0