Also known as Panagia Ikonistria, the monastery holds a special place in the history and spiritual life of Skiathos. According to local tradition, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered here around 1650, hanging from a pine branch, giving rise to the name “Kounistra.”

Panagia Kounistra is the patron saint of Skiathos and is celebrated on 21 November. Today, the original icon is kept at the Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Skiathos Town, while the monastery remains one of the island’s most significant places of pilgrimage.