When King
Othon declared Athens as the capital of the newly founded country of Greece
(10 December 1834) some officers and technicians who had com with him from
Bavaria followed him in Greece (1833). In 1837 the Greek army was organized
and the Bavarian was cancelled. Some of former soldiers returned to their
country while others decided to stay in Greece and together with the
technicians settled in Herakleio, Attica.
The new residents of Herakleio were 90% Christian Catholics.
As a result, the need to create a church arose in order to serve their
spiritual needs. To serve this need, according to a royal regiment, a piece
of land was donated to the church and the priest.
The bishop in change of Athens, who lived in Syros, after getting the King's
and royal priest's - father Arneth - approval, creates a parish. Then he
gives approval of building the Holy Church that would have Saint Luke the
Evangelist as a patron Saint. Saint Luke had escorted Apostle Paul to his
journey in Athens.
These happened in 1842 when the founding stone was blessed by the priest in
change of the area, father Sargologo, who had been given this authority by
the bishop of Syros, Blancis.
The first expenses were covered firstly by the Greek Catholics who raised
money in Lyon France and in Greece. Secondly, a large amount of money was
donated by King Othon and his father Ludovick, King of Bavaria, who was a
philhellene.
The Gothic architecture which we can see today was King Othon's wish (he
drew the sketch himself) and was created by the architect Hansen. It reminds
of Bavarian churches.
After going through several stages, the building was completed in 1845 and
the formal consecration was held on 18 October, the day on which patron
St.Luke the Evangelist is celebrated.
Today St.Luke's church is open regularly and, together with the faithful, it
makes a very lively parish. It is widely recognized that together with
St.Luke's square it is one of the most beautiful spots of our town.
Saint Luke's huge icon, which
stands overwhelmingly above the altar is King Othon's father's donation. The
bell-tower is also o gothic architecture.
On 16 June 1968 the unveiling ceremony of King Othon's bust was held. We can
see this bust in the yard of the Church. It was created by George Maltezos
and was donated by Mrs Paola Huber.