Visit the holy site where the Apostle Paul prayed and preached
The Vlatadon Monastery is situated in the High Town not far from the ancient Byzantine city walls. This is the only monastery in Thessaloniki which remained since the Byzantine times. It stands at the height of 130 meters above sea level. It was based by Saint Gregory Palama’s pupils Cretan brothers Dorofei and Mark Vlattami in the 14th century. The monastery was first time mentioned in 1405 by Metropolitan Ignatius of Smolensk. The hill-monastery is devoted to the Christ Pantocrator "Almighty". The main temple of the monastery was built with the support of Anna of Savoy (Palaiologina).
Monastery building
The building of the main Cathedral was heavily damaged during an earthquake in 1978, and later it was restored. Katholikon is the only part remained of the initial monastic complex. It is constructed as an inscribed cross with the arcade ending with small chapels. The most ancient parts are the chapel of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, a dome, and an internal southern wall of the temple. In 1988 it was included in the list of objects of cultural heritage of UNESCO. Today, the Patriarchal Institute for Patristic Studies in Thessaloniki and the hostel for students of the Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki are situated at the monastery.
Treasures of the Monastery
In the monastery there are particles of relics of St. Gregory the Theologian, megalomartyr James the Persian, St. Modest, St. Athanasius the Great, Holy Martyrs and Unmercenary Healers Kosmas and Damianos, and megalomartyr Procopius.
A collection of icons of the 12th - 14th centuries, manuscripts (93 codes, the most ancient manuscript Sacra Parallela of the 10th century), early printed books and vital documents are stored in the museum. Museum collection also includes such antiquities as the “Hodegetria” icon of the God’s Mother (60-80s of the 14th century), an icon with scenes of the Christ's sufferings, “Old Testament Trinity” (15th century), double-sided icon (late 15th century) with 3 rows of icons depicting Christ and Archangels, Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, great Martyrs Genus, Theodore the Tyro, Demetrius on its front, and the Crucifixion with two rows of 14th century icons of Christ and the forthcoming Angels, Holy Mother and Child, forthcoming Michael the Archangel and John the Precursor on it.
The beautiful prospect opening from the monastery will fully redeem all the efforts and time spent to get to the High Town. If you’ll be into luck to find the main temple of the monastery opened, pay attention to the plate in the southeast side: according to the legend, standing on it, the Apostle Paul was preaching to the inhabitants of Thessaloniki in the 50s after Christ. Another legend states that the Apostle Paul visited one of the houses within the territory of the modern monastery, and prayed inside.
Don’t forget to take some bread and cookies along, if you will visit Vlatadon with children. Kids will be happy to feed the chief monks of the monastery, the numerous peacocks, loudly singing their "paradise songs" heard in the neighbor of the monastery.
The monastery is located at the corner of the Eptapirgiou and Akropoleos Streets. You can get there from the center of Thessaloniki on foot (approx. 20-30 minutes) or by buses Nr. 22, 23, and 50. It is possible to get here from the Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene Gate for 5 minutes, moving along the Eptapirgiou Street.
