Vlatadon Monastery, Thessaloniki

The Vlatadon Monastery is the only surviving Byzantine monastery in Thessaloniki. It was founded in the mid-14th century, during the final decades of the Byzantine Empire, and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki. At the time of its foundation, it was dedicated to Christ Pantokrator and was known as the Monastery of the Pantokrator.

The monastery was established in 1351 by the brothers Dorotheos and Markos Vlatadon, prominent figures in the intellectual and ecclesiastical life of late Byzantium. According to long-standing tradition, the site overlooks the area where the Apostle Paul is believed to have preached during his visit to Thessaloniki around AD 50–51.

During the initial Ottoman occupation beginning in 1387, monastic life was disrupted and Ottoman troops were reportedly quartered within the complex. Unlike many major churches, however, the monastery was never permanently converted into a mosque. When Thessaloniki briefly returned to Byzantine control in 1403, Orthodox monastic life resumed, and after the final Ottoman capture in 1430, the monastery continued operating without interruption.

Architecturally, the complex preserves Byzantine structural elements, including arches and semi-columns, while its fragmentary frescoes date mainly to the 14th century. The monastery also houses an important collection of icons, manuscripts, codices, patriarchal seals, and imperial documents.

Restored throughout the 20th century, the Vlatadon Monastery today also accommodates the Patriarchal Institute for Patristic Studies, a major research center dedicated to early Christian and Byzantine theology.