Byzantine Period

The oldest known manuscript written for the Monastery dates back to 1021-2 and was commissioned by Abbot Athanasius (one of its three founders), but is now in the Historical Museum of Moscow. The oldest of similar provenance remaining in it is a Tetraevangelium of 1263, for which the only known evidence is that it was written during the abbotship of Arsenius.

Particular bibliographical activity is observed in the Monastery in the 14th and 15th centuries. At the beginning of the 14th century. the first known Vatopedi codographer, named Kallistos, works, from whose hand many codices, mainly of Patristic content, originate. A century later we meet Gregory and Philotheos, who copied liturgical books, possibly with the guidance of the abbot Gennadius.

At the same time, many rulers donated valuable codices to Vatopedi. In the mid-14th century, the Monastery received a donation of 26 luxurious manuscripts from Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, including a Gospel of 1340-1 with exquisite decoration from the Monastery of the Guides of Constantinople. Other codices were dedicated by Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, the despots Manuel and Andronikos Palaiologos, the ruler of Serbia John Uklesis, etc.

Many other important volumes seem to have been added to the collection at this time, but there is no evidence of their provenance. Such is the codex with the Panegyric of Emperor Leo VI the Wise from the 10th century, codex no. 84 from the 9th century with valuable hagiographic content, and of course the illustrated codices with the works of Ptolemy and Strabo, and the Octateuchos.