Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest in Greece
Greece, of course, is one of the most ancient of civilizations and we draw much from early philosophers.
The majority of the churches here are Greek Orthodox; however, there is a small minority of Roman Catholics in the country. And you won’t find too many Catholic Shrines here, either. Those traveling to Greece, whether by land or on a cruise, will find opportunities to attend Mass in various places.
It is also our understanding that if you cannot find a Roman Catholic church on a Holy Day of Obligation, you may attend a Mass at a Greek Orthodox Church, but not receive communion.
As mentioned, many people take cruises of the Greek Islands and we encourage you to visit some of the Catholic churches on your cruise. Most cruises sail in May, June, July, August, September, and October when the weather is ideal.
Greece has also become a popular wedding destination and many prospective brides dream of being married in one of its beautiful churches. However, this can be a bit more complicated than it might sound. We will have more information on that subject on our blog.
Catholic Places of interest in Mainland Greece:
Athens: Catholic Churches in Athens
Nafpaktos: Site of the Battle of Lepanto (Our Lady of the Rosary)
Napflio: Catholic Church of the Transfiguration
Patras: The Basilica of St. Andrew
Thessaloniki: Catholic Parishes of Thessaloniki
Catholic Churches & Shrines on the Greek Islands:
Greece includes 6,000 islands and islets scattered in the Greek Seas, of which only 227 islands are inhabited. The main Catholic points of interest are on the following islands:
Cyprus: Catholic Churches on Cyprus
Mykonos: Catholic Churches on Mykonos
Patmos: The Cave of Saint John
Santorini: Fira, Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Simi: Panormitis Monastery (shrine to Saint Michael)
Tinos: Our Lady of Tinos (the “Lourdes of Greece”)