First, it was founded in 1983 as a women's private retreat and two years later, in 1985, it was officially subordinated to the Holy Diocese of Kitrou, Katerinis and Platamonos.
It is located on the border of the foothills of Olympus and Pieria, on the highest ridge, on the ridge of Hadrian, just outside the village of Kontariotissa, while it is about 12 kilometers from Katerini.
The catholicon of the Monastery, of Agioritean architecture, is located in the center of the eastern courtyard. It is dedicated to the patron of the monastery Saint Ephraim and the Virgin Mary, Zoodocho Pigi.
Many chapels adorn the monastery: two are complementary to the catholicon in honor of Saint Catherine and Saint Porphyry. Under the catholicon there is an underground temple, two-story, in honor of the Holy Forerunner and the Holy Neophan Martyrs Raphael, Nikolaos and Irene. Also, a chapel, in honor of Saint Sisoi, adorns the wing of the guesthouse with the dining room. The First Monastery is also adorned with other sacred chapels and quiet seats, while a wise configuration of the buildings has been made so as to leave the spaces where the Nuns move unoccupied.
The I. Monastery celebrates mainly and majestically on January 28, the feast of St. Ephraim, when crowds of pilgrims flock, but it also holds solemn services and vigils for the rest of the feasts of saints and martyrs to which the chapels are dedicated.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou
