As part of the work to fix and restore the trapeza of the Vatopedi Monastery, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos carried out selective excavations with the aim of searching for the old Byzantine trapeza.
The work brought to light much of the original 10th century Byzantine trapeza, which it turns out was also cruciform, like the present one. The 12th century extension of the trapeza to the west and the occasionally overlapping floors and bases of the tables were also identified, evidence of restoration work carried out over a period of approximately 700 years. The superimposed phases are documented by a sufficient number of pottery sherds from glazed vessels, spanding a wide period time range from the end of the 10th century until the late post-Byzantine years.
From the written sources, three significant chronological moments related to the Byzantine trapeza are known:
a) the first is related to the foundation of the monastery in the late 10th century,
b) the second with the enlargement of the trapeza in the late 12th century, and
c ) the third with the renovation of the trapeza in 1319. The results of the excavation notably align with the data from the historical sources.
The present trapeza of the Vatopedi Monastery was built in 1785 to the west of the Katholicon. It has a cruciform plan, with niches at the ends of the three arms of the cross and two additional spaces in the northeast and southeast corners.
The interior frescoes were executed in 1786 by the monk Makarios from Galatista. The Byzantine marble tables (some say they come from the Studion monastery in Constantinople) and apparently from the earlier trapeza, were then reused in its interior. Historical records indicate that older trapeza was situated in roughly the same position as the current one.
The architectural remains unearthed by the excavations below the floor level of the Byzantine trapeza are crucial for the history of the Vatopedi monastery. These can be dated back to the Early Byzantine period and potentially relate to the remains of the basilica discovered about 20 years ago beneath the monastery’s main church during excavations outside its northern side.
The excavation in the northeastern auxiliary chamber of the existing trapeza revealed a Byzantine workshop with fragments used for ceramic kilns, and a cistern. From the characteristics of the oven it can be deduced that it was mainly used for baking small tableware (plates, cups) to meet the daily needs of the monastery.
The restoration of the trapeza and the excavation were financed by the cultural non-profit organization ‘ΑΙΓΕΑΣ’ (AEGEAS) of Athanasios and Marina Martinos.
Wim Voogd, 13/12/2023
(sources text: makthes.gr and thenationalherald.com, source photo’s: YPPO Minstery of Culture, thanks to Vasílis)