Vatopedi monastery

View of Vatopedi monastery from the nearby beach.

The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi (also spelled Vatopaidi^[1], Greek: Βατοπέδι or Βατοπαίδι, pronounced [vatoˈpeði]) on Mount Athos, Greece, was built during the second half of the 10th century by three monks, Athanasius, Nicholas, and Antonius, from Adrianople, who were disciples of Athanasius the Athonite. A legendary tradition says that its construction was ordered in the 5th century by Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius on the site of a church built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century. Theodosius built the monastery to honour the miraculous salvation by the Virgin Mary of her son from a shipwreck. The child is said to have been found in a brier bush – hence vatos – βάτος "brier" and paidi – παιδί "child".

Orthodox monk in the Vatopedi monastery.

From then onwards several buildings have been constructed, most of them were built during the Byzantine period and during the 18th and 19th centuries when the monastery reached its highest peak.

About 100 monks live in the monastery today, where extensive construction projects are underway to restore the larger buildings.

The monastery is open to males and male animals. No females may enter, except female cats are allowed^[2] and female animals the size of chickens or smaller are allowed.^[3]. Reservations to stay at the monastery are required in addition to the permit to enter Mount Athos.

Sketes attached to Vatopedi

The following large Sketes are attached to Vatopedi: the Skete of Saint Andrew in Karyes and the Skete of Saint Demetrius near the main monastery. Other smaller sketes are also attached to the monastery.

Main buildings within the walls of the monastery

The Holy Trinity, fresco on the ceiling of the entrance (πρόστωον) of the katholikon at Vatopedi.

• The Katholikon (primary church), dedicated to the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary)
• The Refectory, or trapeza
• The Byzantine period clock tower
• The 10th century NE tower which now houses the monastery's library

Treasures held within the monastery

External view of the monastery.

The Monastery of Vatopedi holds a belt held by believers to be the actual belt of the Theotokos, which she wore on earth and gave to Thomas the Apostle after her death and during her transition to heaven. The silver and jewel-encrusted reliquary containing the skull of St. John Chrysostom is kept in the Monastery and is credited by Eastern Orthodox Christians with miraculous healings. The monastery also contains the Iaspis, a chalice fashioned of a single piece of the precious stone jasper, and numerous icons.

Vatopedi's library preserves a medieval royal charter, the 13th-century Vatopedi Charter of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria dedicated to the monastery. It was discovered in the monastery's archives in 1929.

The library holds 2,000 manuscripts and 35,000 printed books. Among its manuscripts are Uncial 063 and Uncial 0102.

Other manuscripts

• Minuscule 245
• Minuscule 464
• Lectionary 54
• Lectionary 55

Land deal controversy

In September 2008, the monastery was implicated in a real estate scandal. The monastery traded low-value land for high-value state property in a deal with the New Democracy government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. The cost to the state is believed to have been at least €100 million; the financial writer Michael Lewis reports that a Greek parliamentary commission estimated the value of government property received by the monastery at one billion euros.^[1] After the story became public, the government cancelled the land deals and two ministers resigned. Additionally, Parliament voted unanimously to set up a commission to investigate the deal.^[4][5]

Miracle-working icons within the monastery

There are seven icons of the Mother of God in the monastery purported by believers to be miracle-working: Elaiovrytissa, Ktetorissa (Vimatarissa), Esphagmeni, Pantanassa, Pyrovolitheisa, Antiphonitria and Paramythia.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Michael Lewis, "Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds." Vanity Fair, 1 October, 2010.
2. ^ "And on this island no women are allowed—no female animals of any kind, in fact, except for cats."
3. ^ "No women are permitted to set foot on this peninsula (nor are female animals larger than chickens)."
4. ^ Greek minister quits over scandal, BBC
5. ^ Greek MPs vote to investigate Vatopedi monastery land deal, Herald Sun
6. ^ Icone della Ss.ma Madre di Dio – Hodigitria

External links

• Vatopedi at the Mount Athos website

Coordinates: 40°18′51″N 24°12′40″E / 40.31417°N 24.21111°E / 40.31417; 24.21111