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Vatopediou Monastery
Vatopediou, one of the larger monasteries, stands on what was probably the site of the ancient town, Dion. It is built above a small inlet on the north-east side of the peninsula, at the top of a green slope. The monastery is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25th).
The katholikon was built in the tenth century, and is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its plan, with certain later changes and additions, is that common to all the monasteries on Athos, which we described at Great Lavra. Of more recent date is the exo - narthex and the bell-tower. The exo narthex, constructed in 1426, is a two- storey building with an open arcade on the ground floor. The tower which abuts it was built in 1427. The present wooden templon was carved in 1788; behind it is preserved the low marble iconostasis of Byzantine date.
The frescoes of the katholikon, according to one inscription, were executed at the beginning of the fourteenth century in the reign of the Emperor Andronicos II and the rule of the monk Arsenios. Unfortunately, the earliest paintings have been retouched twice (1739 and 1819), which has somewhat diminished their original value. Nevertheless, one may discern under the weak colours of the repainting the characteristics of the Macedonian School, especially in representations of the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the Passion of Christ and others. The paintings of the exo-narthex, which are more recent than those described above, were also retouched in 1819.
Vatopediou has been presented with many gifts and consequently has one of the most valuable treasuries on the Holy Mountain. Here are kept many rare objects of immense value; portable mosaic icons of the Crucifixion and of St. Anne, a por table icon of St. George made of agate, gold-embroidered vestments, ecclesiastical plate and a large selection of rarities.
In the sanctuary of the katholikon fragments of the True Cross are preserved, together with relics of saints, two miniature icons, that is to say, a diptych of Christ and the Virgin known as the "Ninia of Theodora" and a part of the reed on which the sponge of vinegar was offered to Christ on the Cross and many other relics.The library is rich both in manuscripts and in printed books. There are more than 1700 manuscripts, of which 625, as well as 25 liturgical scrolls in the archives, are written on parchment. From the illustrated manuscripts we would select for special mention numbers 602, 609, 655 and 1199, with their fascinating miniatures and other decorations. The printed books number more than 10,000 volumes, and include many old and valuable editions.
The library is temporarily housed in a tower at the north-east corner of the courtyard. But both for the library and for the treasury, at the moment next to the refectory in a free-standing building, new homes are being prepared in the present re-building of the north wing, to which they will soon be transferred.
To Vatopediou belongs the Greek skete of St. Demetrios, and the large Russian skete of St. Andrew.
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