Vatopedi Monastery Honors Its Holy Founders with Festal All-Night Vigil
A festal all-night vigil at Vatopedi Monastery honored its holy founders, bringing together hierarchs, monastics, and chanters in prayer, tradition, and spiritual fellowship.
KARYES — A festal all-night vigil was celebrated this week at the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mt. Athos in honor of its Holy Founders—Sts. Athanasius, Nicholas, and Anthony.
The Festal Vespers was presided over by His Eminence Met. Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, concelebrating with the Abbot of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim, together with a gathering of priests and deacons.
The vigil was marked by solemn and prayerful chanting led by Protopsaltis Ioannis Hasanidis and his choir, alongside students of the Eirmos Academy of Byzantine Chant under the direction of Spyridon Aspiotis, joined by the monastic fathers of Vatopedi.
During the Litany (Liti), the longstanding Athonite tradition was observed, with the faithful invited to the monastery’s Great Synodikon for the offering of traditional refreshments. On this occasion, Met. Barnabas and Elder Ephraim exchanged warm words, blessings, and greetings, underscoring the spiritual unity and continuity of Athonite monastic life.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the governor of Mt. Athos had invited President Trump to the Holy Mountain.
