The '''Monastery of Vatopedi''' is one of twenty monasteries on the [[Mount Athos]] peninsula and is located on the northeastern side of the peninsula. It operates as a coenobium (a communal monastic community) monastery, [as of 1999] is inhabited by 80 monks and is second in hierarchical rank among the monasteries. Some sources associate the name of "Vatopedi" with the flora of the surrounding countryside (''vatos'' = shrub, ''pedion'' = plain or ground);<ref>[http://www.chalkidikimountain.com/athos/vatopedi.html The monastery of Vatopedi]</ref> others point to a traditional story in which Emperor Arcadius built the monastery to honor the saving of his son from shipwreck by the [[Theotokos]]; the child was found in a bush (''vato'' = brier, ''paidi'' = child).<ref>[http://www.mlahanas.de/Greece/Regions/MonasteryOfVatopedi.html Monastery of Vatopedi]</ref>

== History ==Some sources associate the name of "Vatopedi" with the flora of the surrounding countryside (''vatos'' = shrub, ''pedion'' = plain or ground);<ref>[http://www.chalkidiki.com/athos/vatopedi.html The [[monasteryof Vatopedi]] was founded </ref> others point to a traditional story in 972 which Emperor Arcadius built the monastery to honor the saving of his son from shipwreck by three the [[monkTheotokos]]s: Athanasius, Nicholas, and Antonius, who were students of St. Anthanasius of Lavra. It operates as ; the child was found in a coenobium bush (a monastic community''vato'' = brier, ''paidi'' = child). The major parts of the monastery were constructed either during the Byzantine period or later, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when building reached its peak<ref>[http://www.mlahanas. The monastery is monumental in size, with a tall wall in which the buildings are placed in triangular formde/Greece/Regions/MonasteryOfVatopedi. html Monastery of Vatopedi]</ref>

The [[monastery]] was founded in 972 AD by three [[monk]]s: Athanasius, Nicholas, and Antonius, who were students of St. Anthanasius of Lavra. The major parts of the monastery were constructed either during the Byzantine period or later, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when building reached its peak. The monastery is monumental in size, with a tall wall in which the buildings are placed in triangular form.  == Main Buildings ==* The [[katholikon]] was built in the tenth century in the Athonite style. It is dedicated to the [[Annunciation]] of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]]. The katholikon still retains some mosaics from the Byzantine period. There are nineteen chapels in and around the monastery proper, with five within the katholikon. * The Trapeza* The Buzantine period clock tower* The North-east tower which houses the monastery library (10th-century) == Sketes of Vatopaidi ==The Greek [[skete]] of St. Demetrius , near the main monastery, and the Russian skete of St. Andrew (Serri) in Karyes both belong to the VatopediMonastery.