Athens Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai

Location: Victoria

The impressive church of Agios Panteleimon of Acharnai is the biggest church in Greece as well as one of the biggest ones in the Balkans. The church is located north of Victoria Square, along the busy Acharnon street from which it has taken its title.

The church was built upon the location of a former smaller temple dedicated also to Agios Panteleimon. Founded in 1910 by King George I, it was inaugurated in 1920 while the resurgence operations paused during the World Wars and were completed in the early 1980s. The designs were originally undertaken by architect Ioannis Papadakis while Georgios Nomikos carried on with their completion; it should also be noted that this church is of the first edifices where concrete was used as the building material.

Architecturally, Agios Panteleimon is a characteristic Orthodox basilica that dazzles the visitor with its enormity. The most impressive feature of the temple is the imposing, vast dome; reportedly close to the perimeter of that of Agia Sofia in Istanbul, it takes up an extent of almost 1600 square meters. The illustrations of the interior are works of the famous Greek painter Giannis Karouzos, who begun the decoration process in 1984.

Besides being a monument of major religious and architectural significance, the church of Agios Panteleimon stands out due to the active presence of the clergy, with a frequent organization of seminars on Byzantine music and traditional organs that promote the celebration of the Orthodox cultural heritage.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai, 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.

Car rental: Τhere’s the option of renting a car in Athens with as little as 13 euros per day and pick it up directly from the airport, port or your hotel. Using a car rental allows visitors to discover the Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai and many other places of interest in Athens at their own pace.

On foot: As the Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Victoria metro station, in approximately 8 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro stations are “Victoria” on line 1 and “Attiki” on lines 1 and 2. Note that the Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai is located approximately within a 10-minute walking distance from both metro stations. Get a map of the metro here.

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