Vatopedion is built on a small bay on the northeast side of Mt. Athos. It was founded in the 10th century by disciples of St. Athanasios the Athonite. Its Catholicon is of the 10th century, frescoed in the 14th century. The wood-carved temple is of 178 although the previous marble one is still in place behind the new. The monastery’s feast day is the Annunciation on March 25. In addition to the frescoes, the Catholicon is decorated with a few mosaics, unique on Mount Athos. Among the valuable relics of the monastery are a piece of the Holy Cross, the icons of Theotokos Paramythias, Antiphonitrias, Esfagmenis, Eleovritidas and Vimatarissas, the Holy Girdle of the Virgin Mother, a drinking cup made by jasper—a gift from the Emperor Manuel II Paleologos—and the so-called “dolls of Theodora”, a diptych with icons of Christ and the Panaghia (Virgin Mother). The library has approximately 1.700 manuscripts and 10.000 printed works. The monastery is 2nd in the hierarchy of Mt. Athos and is presently the largest complex on Mt. Athos.