A silver catalyst for the production of ethylene oxide having 5 to 25% by weight, based on the amount of a finished catalyst, of finely divided metallic silver and 0.001 to 0.05 gram equivalent weight of cesium per kg of the finished catalyst carried on an .alpha.-alumina carrier having the outer surface thereof and the surface of pores in said carrier coated with amorphous silica, and a method for production thereof by supporting finely divided metallic silver and cesium and then subjecting the supported carrier to a high temperature heat treatment in an inert gas at a temperature of 400.degree. to 950.degree. C.