The Holy Monastery of the Annunciation, located 1,5 km north-east of Vatopedi and 4 km away from Ormylia (Chalkidiki), is the largest in Greece. The monastery is known worldwide. It houses 130 people, out of whom 110 are nuns and 20 priests. Moreover, it houses nuns in probationary period, workers and managing executives. It belongs to the Mount Athos glebes of the Ormylia area.
In the past, it covered the area of the current village of Vatopedi, which after the expropriation of 1924 was given to the refugees. They built there the homonymous village. The history of this Mount Athos glebe dates back to the 12th century. Initially, in the glebe there was a central building built in 1903, a small church dedicated to the Annunciation of Virgin Mary and a few small storage sites. When it was bought in 1974 by the Monastery of Simonos Petra, it became one of its dependencies and was provided to house the female society, which was led by the abbot of Simonos Petra. To the present, the Holy Monastery is Stauropegion and Patriarchic and houses 120 nuns led by the abbess Nikodimi. After the renovations that took place in the Holy Monastery and the construction extension, for it to meet all the needs of the society, it continues to maintain respectfully the glamour of the sacred Mount Athos tradition.
The Catholic is a temple of Byzantine style with a dome, which can be admired by every visitor. It has mosaic floors, created by the nuns, and also famous murals from the painting group of the monastery. On March 25, feast of the Annunciation, and on July 22, feast of the Holy Mary Magdalene, considered as the protector of the main monastery Simonos Petra, a major celebration is held.
The monastery, a Mount Athos glebe of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, has followed a process of development, following the tradition of Mount Athos and is a template of the monastic community in Greece. This is where female monasticism has been established "as a reason for life and tireless offer" in religious missions and in social work. The Female Society, which consists of more than 100 nuns, offers its services and apostolate in various fields. The most important thing, however, is that in the name of Orthodoxy and always worshipping the Lord, it enables women to participate actively in ecclesiastical life.