The monastery of Agia Anastasia Farmakolytria (St Anastasia the Curer) stands
near Vassilika of Thessaloniki, at the foot of Adrianos, one of Mount Hortiatis's
summits. It is said to have been founded by Leon the 6th in the 19th century,
but this has not been cross-checked. In all probability, it was built in 1522
by St Theonas, who later became metropolitan bishop of Thessaloniki. During the
Turkish domination, the monastery owned many acres of land but it was destroyed
by the Turks during the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and was rebuilt from
scratch in 1830. Today, it belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
and honours St Anastasia on the 22nd of December.
