Agios Loukas (St. Luke) Catholic Church

The Agios Loukas Roman Catholic Church (Saint Luke) is one of the most characteristic reminders of the Bavarian heritage of Heraklion. During the reign of King Otto in Athens, many military officers and technical specialists of Bavarian origin accompanied the royal court. Following the dissolution of the Bavarian military corps in 1837, some returned to Bavaria, while others remained in Greece and settled in Heraklion, Attica, contributing to the development of the area. As many of the new settlers were predominantly Catholic, land was granted by royal decree to serve their religious and spiritual needs.
A parish was subsequently established, and it was decided to construct a church dedicated to Saint Luke the Evangelist. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1842, and construction was completed in 1845. Built in the Gothic architectural style, the church was designed, at the request of King Otto, by the renowned architect Theophil Hansen. Its inauguration took place on 18 October of the same year. Today, the Church of Saint Luke operates regularly and, together with Saint Luke’s Square, forms one of the most distinctive architectural and spiritual landmarks of Heraklion.