Metochia in Romania

The relations of the Athonite monasteries with Moldavia and Wallachia date back to the 14th century and were mainly in the form of financial assistance from the rulers of the two principalities, from other Romanian officials, but also from ordinary believers. Vatopedi will become a recipient of such benefits as early as the 15th century, but only from the end of the following century will it begin to acquire, through donations or purchases, shares in this region, to end up owning an enormous fortune in the 19th century. This will be lost in its entirety in 1863 with the confiscation of the monastic property of the two principalities by the Romanian state.

The Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Galatsi

It was built before 1641 by the voivode Vasilios Loupou. The following year he ratified the first donation to it, and later dedicated it to the Vatopedi Monastery.

The Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Orasul de Flotsi

It was founded before 1628, since in that year it is attested as a metohi of the Vatopedi Monastery. The city in which it was located was destroyed.

The Golia Monastery in Iași

A church was first built in the area around 1564 by John Golias and before 1606 it was dedicated by his widow to the Vatopedi Monastery, which immediately afterwards converted it into a monastery. Subsequently, various Moldavian voivodes granted it villages in their regions. In 1660, Stefanitza Lupu confirmed its possession of Vatopedi and exempted it from certain taxes. At the same time, the monks of the monastery expanded its estates, so that in 1828 it owned 100.000 acres of land, mainly in Bessarabia. The Golia Monastery, which exists to this day, was enriched with offerings of objects from many Greek and Romanian families.

The Grazdeni Skete in Barlad

It is said that a skete with this name was built in the early 17th century in the area of ​​Barlad by Romanians. In 1687 the skete was repaired or rebuilt by their descendants, who after two years dedicated it to the Myra Monastery, a Vatopedi property. At the end of the 19th century the skete became a metohi of the Golia Monastery, around 1862 it was demolished and in its place a church was built that exists to this day.

The Krainitsi Skete in Tekoutsi

Until 1749, when it was dedicated to Vatopedi by the Pacharnik Konstantinos Bals, it belonged to the Monastery of Myra. At the end of the 19th century, it was a medio of the Monastery of Golia, which however returned it to Myra, while in 1812 it appears to be asking for it back again. Since 1934 it has been reopened after a long period of abandonment.

The Barboyu Monastery in Iași

It was built as a church in the early 17th century by a Romanian official, whose descendants in 1669 converted it into a monastery and dedicated it to Vatopedi. It was expanded by voivode Gregory II Ghika in 1726-1732 and in 1841 it was demolished to make way for a new monastery by the great logothete Demetrios Sturtzas and Gregory of Ireneopolis Vatopedinos. This monastery was also dedicated to Vatopedi and is today preserved in good condition.

The Monastery of Myra in Vrantsa

It was built between 1682-3 and 1686 by a Romanian. Immediately after the reconstruction, the ruler Constantine Candemir expanded it and in 1689 dedicated it to the Vatopedi Monastery, while his son built another monastery next to the first one that burned down in 1716. Important for the Monastery was the abbotship of Metrophanes Kallergis, who improved its temple. Over time, Myra increased its holdings in various regions of Romania and today it is preserved in good condition.

The Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Orasul de Flotsi

It is said to have been built before 1630, when it is referred to as a metochi of the Vatopedi Monastery.

The Pretsista Monastery in Galatsi

On the site of an older church, built before 1641 by a merchant from Galatsi and dedicated to the Vatopedi Monastery, the church of Pretsista, also dedicated to Vatopedi, was erected in 1647 by his son and other Romanian merchants. The church was soon converted into a monastery, to which its founders donated movable and immovable property. Donations and privileges continued in the following centuries by various rulers, officials, as well as individuals and guilds. It is preserved in good condition to this day.

The Monastery of Pretsista in Foxani

It was built by the voivode Nikolaos Mavrokordatos (1709-1715), who dedicated it to the Vatopedi Monastery. The dedication was ratified and donated to the Monastery in 1733 by the ruler Gregory II Ghikas. It was repaired in 1924 and exists to this day.

The Provica Hermitage in Prahova

It was built in the 17th century and belonged to Vatopedi before 1704. A new church was built on the same site in 1834-5, which was repaired in 1889.

The Rakitoasa Monastery in Bacau

The church of the Monastery was built in 1697 by the son of a Romanian official, while the other buildings were later erected by his wife. In 1729, the committee that managed the Monastery dedicated it to Vatopedi, an act that was ratified in 1742. Repairs and donations to the church were carried out in 1842 by Archimandrite Iakovos of Vatopedinos, while a few years later it is testified that the Monastery had a large fortune. After its conversion into a prison in 1885, it was repaired, but today it is preserved in poor condition.

The Fatatsiuni Skete in Tutova

Already from the middle of the 17th century, there is evidence of the existence of a church, which after its desolation was repaired in 1752. In 1784, it was dedicated, along with two other skete, metochia of Fatatsiuni, to the Vatopedi Monastery by the sons of a Romanian official. In 1847-8, Vatopedi's ownership of the skete was disputed, but it did not stop. Today it is preserved in good condition.