Patras Things to Do Tips by amsterdam_vallon

The skull of St-Andrews

In the right of the altar, you can see St. Andrew's skull in an ornate gold reliquary.

Brief history of the skull:
The skull of Andrew was kept in Patras until the year 1460 when Thomas Paleologos, the last ruler of the Morea, brought the skull to Rome. In 1967, under the orders of Pope Paul of the Roman Church, the skull was returned to Patras, were he was a martyre.

Directions: The Cathedral is in the south-east of Patras

The Remains of St-Andrew's cross

On the back right of the Cathedral you can see the remains of the cross on wich St-Andrew's was crucified.

"crux decussata" ("decussated cross") or "St. Andrew's Cross": called "decussated" because it looks like the Roman Numeral "10" (decussis), it is also called St. Andrew's Cross because St. Andrew was supposed to have been crucified on a cross of this shape.

Directions: The Cathedral is in South-east of Patras

The Aghios Andreas Cathedral

The new magnificent Byzantine church was founded in 1908 by King George I and inaugurated in 1974 by Patras' Metropolitan Bishop Nikodimos.
It is the largest and most artistic church in the Balkans and one of the largest across Europe. The supervision of the construction works was initially undertaken by architect Anastasioa Metaxas, and after his death (1937) by architect Georgios Nomikos. The Church's central dome is 46m high and supports a five meter high gold-plated cross and twelve smaller ones, symbolising Jesus and his twelve disciples respectively. The church's capacity is 5.500 persons.

Complete visit : the Aghios Andreas cathedral

Directions: South-east of Patras

The old Aghios Andreas Church

The small Church was erected during the 1836-1843 period at the spot where Apostle Andrew died a martyr. It is a basilica work of architect Lyssandros Kaftantzoglou. The whole body icons on the roof depicting scenes from the Bible, Fathers and Patriarchs are works of the great religious painter Dimitris Hatziaslanis, alias known as Byzantios.

To see more : the old Aghios Andreas church

Directions: South-east of Patras, beside of the Aghios Andreas Cathedral