Saint Dionysius The Areopagite Church

The impressive church located in a central part of the Kolonaki area, on Skoufa Street, opposite the Experimental School of the University of Athens, is dedicated to the bishop and patron saint of Athens, Saint Dionysios the Areopagite. In the place of the current church, there used to be a smaller one, which began to be built in 1880 and was demolished in 1900, in order to build a new and bigger church. Its construction work began in 1925 and was completed in 1931, when it was also inaugurated by Archbishop Chrysostomos. The church is a three-aisle basilica in the neo-Renaissance style. The church’s design was assigned to the renowned Byzantinologist Anastasios Orlandos, while the architect Dimitrios Philippakis contributed to the restoration process. A team of the finest artists and craftsmen combined their forces for its decoration, and the result of their fruitful collaboration awes the visitor. The impressive illustrations were created by the famous painter Spiros Vasiliou. Additionally, Sotirios Varvoglis and Stefanos Xenopoulos were in charge of the exquisite mosaics, while Theofanis Nomikos, one of the best wood crafters crafted the breathtaking woodwork. The architect Georgios Nomikos, brother of Theophanis Nomikos, was the general supervisor of the interior and exterior decoration. Their creation is also, the impressive and one of a kind in Greece wooden carved chandelier of the church. Finally, many of the religious furniture and decorative items are donations from prominent Athenian families. The temple celebrates on the day of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, on the 3rd of October. However, until the final repair of the Metropolis it is used as a cathedral and hosts all the official celebrations of the city.