Agios Eleftherios Church, Athens, Byzantine church near Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens, Greece
Agios Eleftherios is a Byzantine church in Athens built using ancient Greek, Roman, and early Byzantine marble blocks arranged without brickwork, displaying carved relief plaques across its exterior. The interior is supported by four columns that carry an octagonal dome with marble corners and distinctive lobed windows.
Built in the 12th century, this church served as Athens' main cathedral until the construction of the current Metropolitan Cathedral took its place. The shift from one cathedral to another reflected changing needs in the growing city.
The walls show relief sculptures depicting zodiac signs, ancient game trophies, and Roman ceremonial items alongside Byzantine patterns, creating a visible record of different historical periods in one place. Walking around the building, you notice how these carved elements from older times were repurposed into the church structure.
The church is located in Mitropoleos Square in central Athens, within walking distance of both Syntagma and Monastiraki metro stations. You can easily reach the area on foot and combine a visit with other nearby landmarks.
The church was built from recycled stones taken from older structures, including blocks from ancient temples and Roman buildings. This reuse of older materials was a common building practice in Athens during that era.
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