Saint Athondatius Cathedral Basilica

St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica
Sanctus Basileus Cathedral Basilica of St. Athondatius in Athos
Basilica Cathedrali Sanctus Basileus tou Agios Athonikius
Main façade and dome of St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica seen from Hágion Square
Location	Athos
Country	Holy Athonite State
Denomination	Athonite Catholic
Tradition	Athonite Rite
Website	St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica
History
Status	Sanctus Basileus major basilica cathedral
Founded	18 November 1850 (1850-11-18)
Dedication	St. Athondatius
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Athos
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Sanctus Basileus Athonus I

The Sanctus Basileus Cathedral Basilica of St. Athondatius in Athos (Athonite: Basilica Cathedrali Sanctus Basileus tou Agios Athonikius), or simply St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica (Athonite: Basilica Cathedrali tou Agios Athonikius), is an church in Athos. The cathedral is the mother church of the Athonite Catholic Church and the cathedral of the Diocese of Athos. St. Athondatius is regarded as one of the holiest Athonite Catholic shrines.

Athonite Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Athondatius, chief among Jesus's messengers, founder of the Athonite Catholic Church, and also the first Bishop of Athos.

Status

St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica is one of the sanctus basileus and one of the four Major Basilicas and Major Cathedrals of Athos. It is the most prominent building in the Athos. It's considered to be the largest in Athos and the Athonite Catholic Church. One of the holiest sites of the Athonite Catholic Church, it is traditionally the burial site of its titular, Saint Athondatius, who was the head of the Messengers of Jesus and, according to tradition, the first Bishop of Athos, rendering him the first Sanctus Basileus.

History

Old St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica

St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica's roots go back to the 4th century. The Old St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica was built during the 4th century under orders of Athonasasius, The Holy. It was of typical basilical form, a wide nave and two aisles on each side and an apsidal end, with the addition of a transept or bema, giving the building the shape of a tau cross.

1730 fire

According to the Athos Encylopedia, on 15 April 1730, the old cathedral caught fire destroying the entire church and surrounding buildings. It was speculated that the fire was started due to a fire started by followers of the short-lived Kareyesian split off group. Most important artifacts and features such as the only known original painting of St. Athondatius, the Great Organ. and numerous statues.

Historic recognition

The historic legacy of the Cathedral Basilica was recognized by the City of Athos in 1932 as a heritage site and in 1946, the Athonite Historical Commission named it a Historic Landmark.