Story

end of the 4th century: foundation of the Monastery by Theodosius the Great

962: foundation of the first large monastery on Mount Athos (Lavra Monastery) by Saint Athanasius the Athonite.

972: publication of the first Athonite Typikon by Emperor John Tzimiskes.

972-985: foundation or renovation of the Vatopedi Monastery.

1010: mention of the Vatopedi Monastery among the three largest monasteries of Mount Athos.

early 11th century: acquisition of the oldest known metochia of the Monastery (Prosphorion).

1045: publication of the second Athonite Typicon by Emperor Constantine VIII Monomachos.

1080: granting of the first privilege to the Monastery by a gold bull of the emperor Nikephoros Botaniates.

12th century: acquisition of the Vatopedi share of Provlakas.

1197: meeting at the Vatopedi Monastery of the Serbian emperor Stefan Nemanja (as monk Symeon) and his son Savvas, a Vatopedi monk (in the world Rastko Nemanja).

1199: foundation of the Monastery of Chilandari by Saints Symeon and Savvas of Vatopedi.

1205: brief occupation of Mount Athos by the Latins of the Fourth Crusade.

1287: addition of the designation "Vasiliki" to the name of the Monastery. Its Abbot signs as the Abbot of the first Lavra of Mount Athos.

1301: acquisition of the metochon of Agios Mamas from Vatopedi. Confirmation of the Vatopedi property in Macedonia with a chrysobull of Andronikos II Palaiologos.

1307-1309: sacking of Mount Athos by the Catalans.

mid-14th century: large donations to the Monastery from Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos.

1346 and 1348: ratification of Vatopedi's estates and privileges by the Serbian ruler Stefan Dusan, who had occupied Mount Athos.

1356: confirmation of the estates and privileges of the Monastery by Emperor John V Palaiologos.

1362: Vatopedi Monastery definitively occupies the second place in the Athonite hierarchy.

1371: return of Mount Athos to Byzantine rule.

1383-1403: first Ottoman conquest of Mount Athos.

1406: publication of the third Athonite Typikon by Manuel II Palaiologos.

1424: beginning of definitive Ottoman rule on Mount Athos.

1425: recognition of the privileges of the Monastery by a firman of Sultan Murad II.

1444: visit to Vatopedi by the Italian traveler Kyriakos of Agonites.

1449: the Monastery's attempt to return to the coenobitic system.

1489: the Vatopedi brotherhood numbers 330 monks.

1495-96 (7004): construction of the monastery's arsana at the expense of the Romanian ruler Stephen.

1505-6: tonsure of Saint Maximus the Chosen Greek (later the Enlightener of the Russians) at the Vatopedi Monastery.

1564: the church was built, the first building of the Golia Monastery in Romania. It was dedicated to the Vatopedi Monastery in 1606.

1569: confiscation of all Mount Athos lands by Sultan Selim II and their re-acquisition from the Monasteries.

1574: failed attempt to return the Monastery to the coenobitic system.

1628: first testimony of the Skete of Saint Demetrius.

1642 approx.: dedication to the Vatopedi of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius Mavromolou in Galați, Romania.

1653-5: transfer of a large number of the Monastery's manuscripts to Moscow by the Russian monk Arseny Sukhanov.

1661: purchase of the cell of Xystri (later the Skete of Saint Andrew) from the Vatopedi Monastery.

1677: the number of monks in the Monastery reaches 350.

1689: dedication to Vatopedi of the Myra Monastery in Romania.

1698: first testimony of the existence of a library in the Monastery by the traveler John Komnenos.

1744: first testimony of the existence of an archive in the Monastery by the Russian traveler Vasily Barskij.

1748/49: foundation of the Athonia Academy by the Vatopedi.

1752: drafting of the statutes of the Skete of Saint Demetrius.

1768: construction of a new church in the cell of Xystris, dedicated to the Apostle Andrew.

1783: publication of the Athonite Typikon by Patriarch Gabriel IV.

1785: reconstruction of the current refectory of the Monastery at the expense of the sacristan Philotheos.

1786: great financial support for the Monastery by Sofronios of Irinoupolis.

1788: construction of the wooden carved iconostasis of the monastery's catholicon at the expense of the sacristy keeper Philotheos.

1808: the census of this year mentions 234 monks in Vatopedi.

1809: cessation of the operation of the Athonia Academy.

1821: decision to convert the Monastery into a commune, which is not implemented. Outbreak and suppression of the revolution in Macedonia. Looting of part of the Monastery's treasures by the Turks.

1830: withdrawal of the Turks from Mount Athos.

1837: visit of the English nobleman R. Curzon to Vatopedi.

1840: discovery of the relic of Saint Evdokimos the Neophanos in the monastery cemetery.

1841-3: theft of manuscripts from the Monastery by Minas Minoidis.

1842: concession of the cell of Xystris from Vatopedi to Russian monks.

1849: proclamation of the cell of Xystris as a Skete (Skete of Saint Andrew).

1859: donation by Ananias of Vatopedi to the University of Athens.

1863: confiscation of Vatopedi shares in Romania.

1867: transfer of the Monastery's library to the tower of Panagia.

1870 approx.: establishment of a school within the Vatopedi Monastery.

1900: inauguration of the new Sunday chapel of the Skete of Saint Andrew.

1901: transfer of the Monastery's archive to the tower of Panagia.

1903: the number of Vatopedi residents reaches 966.

1905: purchase of Sofular's share by the Monastery.

1912: liberation of Mount Athos by the Greek army.

1917: October Revolution. Loss of Vatopedi shares in Russia.

1922 onwards: gradual concession of Vatopedi shares in Macedonia to refugees.

1926: adoption of the current Charter of Mount Athos.

1930: organization of the first meetings of the Inter-Orthodox Committee at the Vatopedi Monastery.

1961: Vatopedi numbers 127 monks.

1990: establishment of a new brotherhood in Vatopedi and adoption of the communal system.

1992: discovery of the holy relics of the three new founders of the Monastery (Nicolaos, Athanasios and Antonios) during excavations within the catholicon.

2001: excavations around the catholicon (which continue) and discovery of an early Christian temple.