Historical data on the financial situation of the Monastery

Byzantine period

The foundation of the Vatopedi Monastery was not accompanied by any imperial donation, but the origin of its three founders from the economically powerful (in the 10th-11th centuries) landed aristocracy explains the development that soon followed. The first donation to the Monastery, in the form of an annual financial subsidy, is due to the emperor Constantine IX the Monomachos (1042-1055). The donations were continued by his successors.

In 1080, the first privilege granted to the Monastery is attested, granted by Emperor Nikephoros Botaniates (1078-1081) and stipulating the exemption of many of its properties from extraordinary taxation. This privilege was supplemented in 1082 with the complete exemption of certain properties, granted by Alexios I Komnenos in replacement of the old imperial financial contribution. At the same time, Vatopedi also benefited from donations from nobles, which often consisted of valuable offerings (icons, books, utensils, etc.).

After the little known about Vatopedi in the 12th century and the economic difficulties that befell it in the 13th century, due to raids by Latin pirates, in the 14th century it is attested that it possessed large property inside and outside Athos; in 1301 the chrysobull of Andronikos II confirms Vatopedi properties throughout Macedonia, while other testimonies refer to the extensive economic activities of the Monastery within the Mount. From other sources, several donations are known, mainly from nobles, especially from the Kantakouzenos family. This picture is completed by the confirmation and protection of Vatopedi estates by the Serbian ruler Stefan Dusan, a favor that was later repeated and expanded by his successors, although there was no shortage of confiscations of estates by the Serbs. Finally, in 1356 the Vatopedi estates and privileges were ratified by John V Palaiologos (1341-1391).

From the 14th century onwards, many concessions of property by nobles to Vatopedi were made on the basis of an agreement in exchange for their living there as monks during the last years of their lives. When these agreements are formalized and have as their object specific amounts, then we speak of "adelphata".

The arrival of the Ottomans in Macedonia (1371) created problems in the management of the Vatopedi property. Nevertheless, Athos, thanks to its old sultanic privileges, retained its property during the first Turkish occupation (1383-1403); while later Manuel Palaiologos (c. 1406) confiscated many Athonite estates for defense needs. In the 15th century, Vatopedi was particularly favored by Balkan nobles (mainly Serbs), but was also strengthened with privileges and donations from the despot of Thessaloniki, Andronikos Palaiologos.

Period of Ottoman conquest and modern times

15th-16th century.

The Ottoman rule over Mount Athos after 1423-4 was accompanied by heavy taxation with direct effects on the economy of the monasteries, which nevertheless maintained their privileges and medioevia. From 1426 onwards, the Vatopedi Monastery will resort to the Ottoman administration for the recognition of its property and protection from arbitrariness, seeking the issuance of firmans. Despite its efforts, however, the Monastery lost part of its real estate, while what remained is mentioned in the vakofname issued in 1569, after the confiscation of all the monastic lands and their re-purchase by the Athonite people.

To cope with the financial and especially tax burdens, the Monastery relied on donations from Christian rulers, on the exploitation of its assets inside and outside Mount Athos (agricultural crops, fish farms, salt pans, livestock farming, urban real estate, workshops) and on "bequests". Also, many founders or renovators of monasteries outside Mount Athos donated their foundations to it as metochia (a phenomenon that became widespread in the 17th and 19th centuries), since it continued to inspire, as in the past, confidence in the survival and development of the dedication.

Other significant income for the Monastery comes from financial donations from the rulers of Moldavia. In the 15th and 16th centuries, their offerings are mainly limited to financing the few works carried out at the Monastery, but from the 17th century onwards they will also start donating metochia.

16th century-1830

From the end of the 16th century, the financial situation of the Vatopedi Monastery began to improve. One aspect of its prosperity lies in the frequent financial donations of the Russian rulers, which, however, were not accompanied by concessions or the establishment of shares, and in the affairs carried out by the Vatopedi monks in Russia. On the contrary, many shares began to be granted to the Monastery by the principalities of Romania. Thanks to these shares, Vatopedi would soon become a strong economic institution.

At the same time, in the Turkish-occupied area, ecclesiastical and lay officials dedicate churches and monasteries to Vatopedi, along with their property, with the aim of their survival and renovation. Subsequently, other donations or purchases of land are made by the metochia themselves, which indirectly contribute to the prosperity of the Monastery. However, its pre-existing metochia in the Ottoman-occupied areas are also maintained, expanded and seem to contribute to its economic development.

However, many testimonies, mainly from the 17th century, speak of the emergence of debts, which caused the loss of assets. Similar problems seem to have been caused by piracy, while periodic economic crises were dealt with by means of zeiteia. Finally, the failure of the Macedonian Revolution in 1821 caused major financial problems for the Vatopedi fathers, since for the following years there is no mention of income from the meteochies of the principalities nor of building work in the Monastery.

1830-20th century.

The crisis caused by the failed uprising in Macedonia ends in 1830 and the new recovery of the Vatopedi Monastery begins. Its meteomes begin to function again and by the beginning of the next century new ones are acquired. However, in 1863 the Romanian state confiscates all the monastery's meteomes in Moldavia. Ten years later, the Vatopedi monks are also expelled from Russian-occupied Bessarabia, although part of the income there is collected until World War I. After 1917, all income from the former Russian Empire is permanently lost. After the Asia Minor catastrophe and the concessions of land to refugees, the monastery will also lose most of its estates in Greek territory. The financial problems that were caused will be accompanied in the following years of the 20th century. from phenomena of a general crisis, which were interrupted in 1990 with the return of the Monastery to the communal regime.