The polygonal shape of the monastery, purely of fortress character, conceals in its center a huge yard where there is a scarlet catholic. It is an imposing group of purple cells, with a tower in the west, built in the traces of ancient Dion. It holds the second place in the hierarchy of Athos. According to the tradition, M. Konstantinos founded the seaside monastery, but as its founders also appear the brothers from Adrianople,
Athanasios, Nicholas and Antonios. It is dedicated to Evangelism, since its most precious heirloom is the Virgin Mary's Belt.
Its name, real and symbolic: it is called Vatopedion, because there are many bushes (bush:vatoi (greek)) in the flat place in front of the monastery or Vatopedion, because the Theotokos saved the son of Theodosius I, from a wreck ,by washing him up onto this land, alongside a bush.
The pride of the monastery and the entire mountain was the Athonian Ecclesiastical School, which was housed in an independent building opposite the monastery and provided the new monks with knowledge of claims.
The monastic community tried to survive a great deal of suffering ... During the Ottoman domination the unbearable taxes made it kneel and forced it to sell many of the monastery's estates. Only in the 18th century it financially recovered.
It still has a large number of chapels and rare heirlooms, such as a part of the reed that gave vinegar to Christ and the precious “iastis”, the colorful cup of Manuel Palaiologos, which transformed the poison into a harmless liquid. Its library is also full of manuscripts.
