Thessaloniki Vlatadon Monastery

Location: Old Town Ano Poli

The Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Vlatadon is located on the northern side of the Old Town (Ano Poli), close to the castle walls and just opposite the tower of Paleologos. This is one of the oldest and most significant Byzantine monuments in Thessaloniki, dated sometime around the mid-14th century. Today, it belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The Monastery of Vlatadon was established by two disciples of Saint Gregory Palamas, brothers Dorotheos and Markos Vlattis. Its construction was made possible by the contributions of Empress Anna Paleologina Notara, the wife of the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Paleologos. According to a legend, the location of the monastery is where Apostle Paul preached to the locals in 51 AD. Restoration works have also revealed that the monastery was built on the site of an older church.

During the Ottoman occupation of Thessaloniki, the monastery was turned into a mosque. In 1430, it was permitted to function as a monastic fund and was declared patriarchal and stavropegic. Because of its unique historical significance, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

Over the centuries, many reconstructions and additions were made to the building. Today, the only thing that remains from the original Byzantine structure is the katholikon. This is a rare type of cross-on-square church, with a dome that is not supported by columns, but by two pillars on the west and the walls of the altar on the east. Inside, it is adorned with beautiful wall paintings, most of which date from 1360 to 1380.

Visitors will also get to see an impressive collection of religious and historic relics. Manuscripts, religious texts, sacred vessels, and rare icons dating from the 12th to the 19th century are among the highlights. The holy relics of Saint Athanasius the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint Modestos, Saints Cosmas and Damian, and martyr James the Persian are notably kept in the monastery as well.

The Monastery of Vlatadon welcomes visitors every day, from 08:00 to 11:00 and 18:00 to 20:00.