Agia Anastasia Monastery Pharmakolytria
The Monastery of St. Anastasia is located at the southern foot of Mount Omvrianou, in Hortiatis area, near the town of Vasilikon, Thessaloniki.
It was built in honor of St. Anastasia who was martyred in 304 AD during the persecutions of Diocletian.
According to tradition founded by Empress Theophano, wife of Leo StSofou (866-912), 888 AD. In 1522 the monk Theonas (later Metropolitan of Thessaloniki St.) founded the present monastery, on the site of old ruins.
During the second half of the 16th century it reaches its peak, hosting about 300 monks, but was destroyed in 1789. It was established in 1522 by Saint Theonas, Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki, on the position of an older church, probably belonging to the Monastery of Chortaitos which is said to have been founded by Emperor Leon VI, The Wise, in the 9th century.
There was a significant contribution of the monastery in the Revolution of 1821 and was destroyed again along with other villages in the repression of the revolution on June 12, 1821.