In literary sources it is first mentioned in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade and the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire in 1204,[1] but lead seals belonging to the monastery are attested from the second half of the 11th century on, when it was likely founded.
[3] The Cistercians evicted the Greek monks, but their first abbot, known only by his initial, "G", looted the monastery, sold off its possessions, and fled.
[2][3] In 1322, the Despot Constantine Palaiologos fled to the monastery after popular riots in Thessalonica, and became a monk there.
[5] The monastery occupied the site of the modern village of Chortiatis, some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southeast of Thessaloniki.
[5] The monastery held numerous estates throughout Macedonia,[8] and subsidiary establishments (metochia),[5] most notably a metochion in Thessaloniki itself, at the site of Chilia Dendra just outside the eastern city wall.