Near a bay and about 3 hours from Karyes, in the middle of the northeastern side of the Athos peninsula, stands the complex of the Monastery of Vatopedi. The imposing monastery in structure and size holds one of the richest archives of Mount Athos. Although part of it has been published, its early history remains unclear. One tradition, apparently unsupported, claims that its founder was Emperor Theodosius the Great, and links its name to the miraculous rescue of his son within a bush. Another, more plausible tradition, recognizes the founders as the brothers Athanasios, Nikolaos, and Antonios, who came from Adrianople and rebuilt the monastery in 972.
However, the first written evidence dates back to a document by “First” Paul in 985, in which the signature of the abbot of Vatopedi, Nikephoros, appears. The monastery flourished after the 11th century, a period during which it annexed many other monasteries, turning them into dependencies. Vatopedi, along with the Iveron Monastery, holds the second rank in the hierarchy of Athos monasteries, after the Great Lavra.
A characteristic of the wealth it accumulated is a chrysobull by Andronicus II, dated 1292. According to this document, the monastery owned dependencies and “monasteries” in various places, the revenue from a feast, a pasture for cattle, and the island of Ammouliani. It also played an important role in the spread of hesychasm, as it was here that Gregory Palamas was tonsured a monk.
The construction of new buildings is attributed to donations in the 12th century from the King of Serbia, Simeon, and his son, Sava. The monastery was plundered several times throughout its history by Catalans and Turks, leading to financial hardship. The restoration of the monastery was always supported by Byzantine emperors, Balkan rulers, the Tsars of Russia, and, at times, Western monarchs.
The three-aisled katholikon with a dome (10th century) is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Theotokos, following the typology of the Great Lavra. It was reconstructed in the 14th century, and in the 17th century, a two-story open narthex was added. Inside, the unique mosaics of the 11th and 14th centuries are preserved, while the frescoes from 1312 belong to the Macedonian school. The wooden iconostasis, crafted in 1788, is of exceptional art and replaced the original marble one. Also, the floor features excellent marble inlays. The bell tower, built in 1427, is one of the tallest in Mount Athos and has eight bells.
The monastery is the only one on Mount Athos that follows the Gregorian calendar. Its rich library contains over 1,700 manuscript codices, including the oldest Byzantine musical manuscript (1106), rare geographical works by Ptolemy, Strabo, and Pausanias, two Psalters with miniatures, and an illustrated Októichos.
Text: Dr. Antonios G. Dikaios / Theologian – Environmentalist.
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