Athens Agia Irini church

Location: Monastiraki

At the corner of Eolou and Athinas street in Monastiraki, in one of the most renowned downtown spots, one can find the impressive church of Agia Irini.

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Agia Irini is an aisled basilica with an impressive dome and two belfries. The elegant temple was originally constructed during the Turkish Rule and served as a significant meeting point of the Christians during those challenging times. Certain sources mention that the edifice was built by using ruins of more than 70 older Byzantine churches, as well as parts of the ancient ruins of the Acropolis Hill.

After the liberation of Greece in 1821 and the establishment of the modern Greek State, and as the capital was transferred from the city of Nafplio to that of Athens, the church of Agia Irini became the city’s metropolis. As the constructive works for a new metropolis were delayed, in 1846 the famous architect Lyssandros Kaftatzoglou was assigned with the reconstruction of the church. The restoration works were completed in 1850 and the talented architect managed to yield a very special character to the temple, by blending neoclassical, Roman and Byzantine elements, while the elaborate interior illustrations were completed in 1892.

The church of Agia Irini was declared as a monument of special interest in 1972 by the Ministry of Culture and was restored by the Department of Byzantine antiquities in 1995.

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How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Church of Agia Irini, from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Athens transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 693 881 8288, 0030 694 597 2090, 0030 690 943 9292 or book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Church of Agia Irini is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma metro station, in approximately 10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is “Monastiraki” on lines 1 and 3. Note that the Church of Agia Irini is located within a 3-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Monastiraki”. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

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