The monastery was built with funds given by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX, after three monks, living in caves nearby, had petitioned him while he was in exile on the island of Mytilene.
O mosteiro foi construído con fondos dados polo emperador bizantino Constantino IX, logo de que tres monxes, que vivían en covas próximas, solicitáranllo mentres se atopaba no exilio na illa de Mitilene.