;

Information and ways of communication



- Historical Notes on the Cathedral Church of Annunciation (Evangelistria) of Patras

The Church was founded in 1842 and was consecrated in 1846 by the bishop of Patras Gregorios the third, Dendrinos. The church was nominated Metropolitan Cathedral in 1856. There are three Blessed Sanctuaries, dedicated to: the Annunciation of Virgin Mary (Evangelismos), Saint Nicholas, as a replacement of an old church of Saint Nicholas at the port of Patras, and Saint Georgios, the New Martyr from Ioannina, after a request from St. Georgios’ fellow-townsmen residing in Patras at the time.

The Cathedral belongs to the neoclassic buildings of the belle époque of Patras. It follows the Royal Architectural rhythm (Basilica), with three aisles and a tile-covered gable roof. The load bearing structure is made of stone, including two tower-like bell towers, whereas the façade has a two-storey classisist arrangement with a pediment ending and arcaded openings. The exterior dimensions are 33,30 m by 21 m. It has an internal height of 13,43 m and the area of the nave is about 600 sq.m. Two rows of columns define the aisles, and over the simple narthex a transverse gallery forms the women’s loft.

The well-known German architect Chiller designed the elaborate wooden interior of the roof. The bell tower clock was offered in 1855 by the Patras resident German industrialist Theodor Amburger. The three bells of the right bell tower came from Italy in 1862. The Pulpit, with the iron-hammered staircase, replaced an older one in 1918, and was offered by the prominent Triantis family. The Bishop’s Throne, a work of art of the famous wood sculpturing House of Magiasi, Athens, dates back to 1916. The same House constructed the two big wood sculptured icon cases (shrines) at the left side of the nave in 1925 and at the right side of the nave in 1926. The double row of pews at the sides and also those at the back of the nave were designed by the Athenian architect S. Magiasis, and were constructed in 1926. The Royal Door of the Sanctuary and the two side doors, were made during the first decade of the 20th century, by V. Makris and their icons were painted by the historian Epaminondas Thomopoulos. The ceiling and the walls all around the nave are decorated with icons (Agiographies), depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary and various Saints painted by great artists, such as: K. Fanellis, Epam. Thomopoulos, Spyridon Hatzigiannopoulos, Takis Prionas, Dion. Kallivokas, G. Korozis, K. Livadas-Liotsis, Nikolaos Doxaras, Andreas Manalis and Dimitrios Stelakatos. The large icons of the Iconostasion (Templon) are of the Renaissance style and were painted in 1853, whereas the small portable icons in front of the Iconostasion icons came from Russia in 1890. The central chandelier (1894) and the chandelier of the Soleas (1895) came from Great Britain. All the other chandeliers came from Odessos.

Important treasures and heirlooms of the Church are: a Crucifix (by N, Doxaras, 1750), an Epitaph sculptured in wood (1892), an Epitaph Cloth (Body of Christ) embroidered in gold in Moscow in 1890, an Epitaph Cloth from Russia (18th century), a valuable large Slavonic Silver Gospel (1892), the icons of Virgin Mary of the Akathist Hymn, the icons of Virgin Mary of the Throne, and the Hexapteryga, considered to be an offer from King Othon.

The church treasures – among other Holy Relics – the Holy Relics of Saint Luke the Evangelist, Saint George the New Martyr from Ioannina, the russian Saint Luke the Doctor, and Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis (who visited the Church of Annunciation on March 9th, 1903). The Holy Relics are honored and venerated by the faithful on the name-day of each Saint.

The Cathedral is characterized as a building in need of special state protection due to its architectural morphology and its exceptional interior decoration.

The Church remained inactive from 1999 to 2001 for restoration works due to severe damages caused by a strong earthquake in 1993.


- Contact us:

Orthodox Cathedral Church of Annunciation of Patras

Address: Maizonos 103, 26 221, Patras, Greece
Telephone and fax: +30 2610 273752