St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santorini, Catholic cathedral in Fira, Greece.
St. John the Baptist Cathedral stands in Fira's Catholic quarter as a Baroque Revival building of cream and blue-gray. Its octagonal drum carries yellow-orange panels and blue pilasters around arched windows, topped by a white dome and dark cross. A cream bell tower with blue trim holds a clock and hanging bells.
The cathedral was originally built in 1823 and completely reconstructed following the devastating 1956 earthquake. Restoration of the structure was completed in 1970, marking the end of a major renewal effort.
The cathedral is the only church of the Diocese of Santorini and the seat of its bishop, whose see dates to 1204. It stands in Fira's Catholic quarter, a neighbourhood that keeps the island's Latin-rite community distinct from the Orthodox majority. The building was re-consecrated on 17 August 1975 after 29 years of disuse.
The cathedral stands in the Catholic quarter in the centre of Fira, the island capital on Santorini's caldera rim. The surrounding lanes are pedestrian and stepped, so reach it on foot and allow time for stairs and slopes. The clock tower and white dome make it easy to spot from nearby streets.
The 1956 earthquake destroyed the cathedral's organ outright and left the building unusable for 29 years; after major repairs it was reconsecrated on 17 August 1975. It is the only church of the Diocese of Santorini, whose bishopric dates to 1204.
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