One of the most magnificent churches in the centre of Athens is the church of Agios Konstantinos (St Constantine), at the street with the same name, opposite the building of the National Theatre, with which they create an impressive spectacle at the entrance of the city.
Its construction was an initiative of the Municipality of Athens in 1869, in honor of the birth of Prince Constantine heir to the throne, in the previous year. The plans were made by the well-known architect Lysandros Kaftantzoglou, who tried to bring European influences into Greek church architecture. The church’s foundations were laid in 1871, while it was completed several years later in 1905, when the inauguration was carried out by the Metropolitan of Athens Theoclitos I. The expenses for its construction were covered mainly by fund raises all over the world, while also important was the financial support by Queen Olga, mother of Constantine, for the decoration of the interior and the completion of certain additional works.
It belongs to the type of three-aisled basilica and it is characterized by its neo-classical character and the extended use of marble from Penteli mountain. Its façade is impressive, with neo-classical and Renaissance elements, and its monumental entrance with the columns of Corinthian order reminds of an ancient propylon.
The church can be divided into three parts: the central aisle was dedicated to Constantine and Helen, called equal to Apostles by the Church, after a decision by the Municipality of Athens, the northern aisle to Agios Eleftherios, since its inauguration took place on December 15th, while the southern aisle is dedicated to Ioannis Prodromos (John the Baptist) since in the same location was a small church of Ioannis Prodromos. Where the altar of this church used to be, at the intersection of Agios Konstantinos and Menandrou streets, today there is a marble screen.
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