Theotokos Antifonitria
Holy Monastery of Vatopedi
It is a fresco, which is located in the area of liti, between the main church and the exonarthex of the katholikon. It was called 'Antiphonitria' after the opposition to Queen Plakidia, daughter of Great Theodosius and wife of Constantine who reigned in Rome.
While the queen was traveling to Constantinople, to visit her brother Arkadios, she passed by the Holy Mountain and wanted to visit the monastery of Vatopedi. As she proceeded to enter the katholikon through the small side gate, she heard the words: “What do you want, who you are a woman, here in the place of monks? Stop and don't take a step forward." Frightened, the queen left the monastery and built at her own expense a chapel of Saint Demetrius of Myrovlitis at that spot.
The existence of a katholikon in this area during the time of Great Theodosius was considered by the historians of our time as a legend. Today, archaeological research has revealed a large early Christian basilica under the katholikon of the Monastery. The position where the Virgin Mary Antiphonitria is today corresponds exactly to the position of the old basilica, where tradition places it.
