The Holy Monastery of Virgin Mary Pantanassa (queen of all, ruler of the universe) is one of the 14 glebes of the Holy Monastery of Saint Iakovos of Adelphotheos, founded in 1974 by the Dean Iakovos Papadelis in Peristera, Thessaloniki.
It is a women's monastery, where the Holy relics of Saint Nikolaos, Rafail and Eirini, Efthymios “en Peristeres” (from Peristeres), Sophronios the Young, Saint Nikodimos and other Saints’ are kept, as well as the icons of the Miracle of the Cincture of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), of St. Spyridon and copies of the icons of Panagia Pantanassa and Panagia Soumela.
In the centre of the monastery complex there is the central Church named the "Catholic" and there are also the chapels of Saint Iakovos Adelphotheos, Saint Anargyri, Saint Spyridon and Charalambos, Saint Efthymios “en Peristeres” and Saint Lazaros (cemetery pilgrimage).
The Catholic of the Holy Monastery holds a celebration on August 31st (ecclesiastical calendar) or September 13th (new calendar) and Panagia Pantanassa and Saint Efthymios “en Peristeres” - local Saint, on October 15th (ecclesiastical calendar) or October 28th (new calendar).
The nuns of the monastery create renowned artworks and traditional products such as sweet preserves, pastry goods, pies with homemade phyllo dough, soaps with donkey milk, goat milk, argan oil, aloe vera, honey, coffee beans, silk proteins, red or green clay and many other combinations of oils and active ingredients.
They also produce excellent infusions of hops, olive-tree leaves, devil's claw, fennel flower, apricot kernels, whether used in products for weight loss and skin conditioning or for treatment, such as the oils they produce (hypericum oil, chamomile oil, laurel oil, nettle).
They also produce, using the purest natural materials, anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, moisturising, regenerating face and eye creams and fragrances.
The nuns also knit and sell polystavria (multi-cross rosario) and prayers’ beads.