As one of the largest and wealthiest Athonite monasteries, Vatopedi commands a certain power within the hierarchy of monasteries here, and in the Orthodox world in general (see also Vatopedi’s official website). Also, being situated on the northeastern shore of the Athonite peninsula, near a sheltered harbor; it enjoys easy access by water, lying within close proximity to the nearest ports in the non-monastic portion of the peninsula.

This factor has made Vatopedi, in comparison to nearby inland monasteries or ones further down the coast, convenient and accessible for celebrities and the wealthy. Thus Vatopedi has acquired a reputation among a wide range of analysts, echoed by events, as becoming in recent years a communications and networking hub for British royalty, rich Greek ship-owners in London and Cyprus and, reportedly, now for Russian oligarchs as well.
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