Agia Dynami

While walking through the center of Athens, we discovered Agia Dynami, a tiny Greek Orthodox church tucked beneath a large modern building on Mitropoleos Street. Its name means “Holy Power”, and its modest stone walls and low doorway make it easy to overlook among the surrounding hotels, shops, and busy streets.

The church was built during the sixteenth century, when Athens was under Ottoman rule, and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It became particularly associated with expectant mothers, who came to pray for strength and protection during childbirth. Although small, it has remained an active place of worship for centuries.

Agia Dynami also became connected with the Greek struggle for independence during the nineteenth century. According to its history, underground passages beneath the church were linked to a workshop where ammunition was manufactured for Ottoman forces. Greek supporters of the revolution secretly diverted some of the ammunition and carried it to those fighting for independence.

When the large government building above and around the church was constructed during the twentieth century, Agia Dynami was preserved. The result is one of the most unusual sights in Athens: a centuries-old church sheltered beneath the overhang of a modern structure. The building is now occupied by the Electra Metropolis Hotel, but the church remains open and continues to serve the faithful.