Vlatades Monastery, Thessaloniki, Greece

Vlatades Monastery was founded by the brothers Dorotheus and Markus Vlatadon, who were students of Gregory Palamas, in the latter half of the fourteenth century. It was first mention in a letter by Patriarch Matthew dated in 1400 to Metropolitan Gabriel of Thessalonica.

In 1387, Thessalonica and the monastery were occupied for the first time by the Ottoman Turks. While the monastic community held together, the monastery properties were sequestrated as royal property and the main church was converted into a mosque with the frescoes of its interior plastered cover. During the Turkish occupation a unit of Turkish troops, commanded by a cavus, was billeted at the monastery giving rise to the name Cavus Monastir, still often popularly applied to the monastery.

During the latter part of the sixteenth and most of the seventeenth centuries the condition of the Monastery of Vlatadon and its dependencies deteriorated. While supported by a succession of Patriarchs of Constantinople, the monks of the Monastery of Vlatadon attempted to recover and restructure their dependencies in Thessalonica.

By the mid-twentieth century the monastery became a meeting place for scholars and academics of the city. In 1965, the Patriarchal Institute for Patristic Studies was established that has worked closely with the Aristotelean University of Thessalonica. In recent years the Monastery of the Vlatades has been further renovated and expanded.

References:

Orthodox Wiki

User Reviews

Michal Šimurka (7 months ago)
A beautiful view of the city, the sea, and Mt. Olympus. Worth a visit. Plus, it's free! The church was closed at the time of my visit, but that's okay. The views make up for it. There are some peacocks and chickens cooped up in here too. Kids may enjoy that. It's also supposedly the place where st. Paul stayed during his time in Thessaloniki. Don't take that as a fact though.

Jobi Kollam (8 months ago)
Its a important place in the Europe… its Built in the 14th century during the late era of the Byzantine Empire, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with 14 other Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki because of its Byzantine architecture and importance of Thessaloniki during early and medieval Christianity.

vio (9 months ago)
Very nice view over the city and an incredibly relaxing vibe. The monks seemed very nice and watching the birds (and peacocks!) was great. The art inside the church is incredible and I think it's totally understandable that taking pictures inside is forbidden. If you're ever in the ano poli I would recommend because it's a nice change of pace compared to the rest of Thessaloniki.

Marjorie Platero (15 months ago)
Quiet place with spectacular views! Clean grounds and beautiful place, plus there is no charge. This monastery is of great historical significance, so it's worth the visit. Would recommend it to anyone in Thessaloniki, especially if you want to visit places where St. Paul went in Greece. There are nice places to sit in the shade, great areas for taking pictures, and plenty of cats to keep you company. Museum is only open Sundays, so if you visit on any other day you'll only see the outside areas, and the Church. Check the website for opening times. There's also a schedule of events for the month posted on the outside of the church at the monastery. I walked from the harbor to the monastery and it was quite steep and tiring. You can take a bus but you still need to walk a bit since buses can't go close to the monastery because the roads are way too narrow. Plan ahead how you'll get there, but do go, the views are amazing and you can't miss out on this beautiful place!

Sam Aberman (16 months ago)
Vlatadon Monastery is a beautiful and historic monastery located in Thessaloniki, Greece. It was founded in the 14th century and is one of the oldest monasteries in the country. The monastery is located on a hilltop, which offers STUNNING views of the city. The monastery is a peaceful and quiet place to visit. The gardens are small but well-maintained and include a selection of bird cages, including peacocks and pheasants. The monastery is also home to a number of Byzantine icons and frescoes, which are worth seeing. We visited Vlatadon Monastery on a sunny Tuesday morning and were struck by the beauty of the setting. We were practically on our own for a long time while we visited. The views of the city were breathtaking. We spent some time walking around the gardens and visited the monastery church. The church is small but beautifully decorated with impressive set of icons and frescoes. It is a great place to relax and reflect, and it is also a fascinating historical site (and free to visit).

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright stahli36

Historic Site of the week

Celje Castle

Celje Castle was once the largest fortification on Slovenian territory. The first fortified building on the site (a Romanesque palace) was built in the first half of the 13th century by the Counts of Heunburg from Carinthia on the stony outcrop on the western side of the ridge where the castle stands. It had five sides, or four plus the southern side, which was a natural defence. The first written records of the castle date back to between 1125 and 1137; it was probably built by Count Gunter. In the western section of the castle, there was a building with several floors. Remains of the walls of this palatium have survived. In the eastern section, there was an enclosed courtyard with large water reservoirs. The eastern wall, which protects the castle from its most exposed side, was around three metres thicker than the rest of the curtain wall. The wall was topped with a parapet and protected walkway.

Vlatades Monastery

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Celje Castle