Monastery Vatopediou
The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi or Moni Vatopediou (greek-orthodox; holiday: 25th march; phone: 23770-23219),
on Mount Athos 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 his 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 for public view. Reservations to stay at the monastery are required in addition to the permit to enter Mount Athos.
Φωτογραφίες Μονής
