Soumela Monastery In Trabzon is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Turkey. This monastery has a very rich history that will put anyone in awe.
How to go to Soumela Monastery In Trabzon?
Soumela Monastery In Trabzon is easy to reach as Trabzon has a wide range of transportation, and also hotels to stay in.
The nearest major city to Sumela Monastery, which is situated directly on the southern shore of the Black Sea in Eastern Turkey, is Trabzon, which you must reach once you reach Istanbul.
Flying into Trabzon Airport is the quickest and best option to get from Istanbul to Trabzon. It will take the aircraft roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Trabzon may also be reached by overnight bus from Istanbul, however, the trip will take around 19 hours. a few buses going from different ports in Istanbul and the Istanbul Central Bus Station.
From the Ankara Esenboga Airport, it is simple to board a flight that will take you to Trabzon in around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Both Ankara Sogutozu Bus Station and Ankara Asti Bus Station have a number of buses that run virtually continuously throughout the day, taking passengers to Trabzon in around 11 hours.
The east-bound dolmus station along the highway should make it simple for you to take a straight dolmus from Trabzon to Soumela Monastery.
You’ll travel for almost an hour before reaching Sumela Monastery.
There won’t be any direct dolmus as described above if you visit during the winter, but you may still go independently by taking a dolmus from the same location to Macka, from whence you can rent a cab to drive you to Sumela Monastery.
The history of Soumela Monastery In Trabzon
Sumela is a 1600-year-old medieval Orthodox monastery in Turkey’s Macka district that is perched 1200 meters above sea level on a sheer rock. The monastery is built on rocks that are accessible through the forest through a route. The monastery’s walls are covered with stunning murals from the 18th century that depict biblical images of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Between 375 and 395 AD the monks Sofranio and Pranabesh from Athens, Greece, founded the monastery of Soumela.
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In the sixth century, it was improved and expanded by Emperor Justinius. In the thirteenth century, the monastery of Soumela took its present form. After the principality of Trabzon was founded in 1204 and Turkmen immigrants arrived in the Black Sea region under the care and protection of Ulu Monastery, its importance grew. In the seventeenth century, the monastery was extensively renovated and some of its walls even received decorations.
Due to the site’s breathtaking position, architecture, and surroundings, it was abandoned in 1923 and later turned into a museum and a well-liked tourist destination.
The Turkish government granted permission for an Orthodox Mass to be celebrated in the Sumela monastery on August 15, 2010, which was the first time since 1923.
Where does the name of the Soumela Monastery come from?
It is believed that Sumela’s name derives from the term “molasses,” which in the regional tongue at the time the monastery was founded, meant “black, black gloom.” The name of the area is Oros Melas. “Panagia Sou Melas” is the monastery’s original name. Records from the Ottoman Empire refer to the monastery as “Su(o)Mela
Structure of the Soumela Monastery:
the church, kitchen, dorms for students, guesthouse, library, and holy spring at Main Rock. This complex of structures was constructed across a huge area. On the slope is a sizable aqueduct that is said to supply the monastery’s entrance with water during the winter. This arch, which is made up of multiple pieces, has been greatly damaged.
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There is a steep, narrow stairway that leads to the monastery’s main entrance. Guard quarters are located close to the entrance. From here, a ladder leads down to the interior courtyard. In front of the cave, which serves as the foundation of the monastery and was converted into a church, are several parts on the left. On the right is where the library is.
The area, where Sumela is located in Trabzon, is extremely similar to the Black Mountains where Karaferya (now Veroia) is located in terms of its natural structure, animals, and vegetation.
The orthodox doctrine holds that Nea Soumela was installed in the New Sumela Monastery, which was constructed in Karaferya on August 15, 1951, the day the Virgin Mary ascended into heaven, making this location a destination for pilgrims.
Is Soumela Monastery In Trabzon on the UNESCO World Heritage List?
The Soumela Monastery has been undergoing repairs by the Turkish government.
The 300-meter-long pedestrian pathway leading to the monastery, as well as several of its structures and some of its buildings’ interior stairs, were all part of the initial phase of the monastery’s restoration. In addition, the repair efforts extended to a location far from the surface opposite the monastery’s northern side that had not yet been accessible via a secret passageway.
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The second stage of restoration will involve repairing and cleaning the rocks that make up the temple, including the locations of the churches and the rows inside the temple. After the restorations, the monastery will get a permanent spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List rather than only being a significant remnant.
Soumela Monastery in Trabzon is one of the most important cultural sites in Turkey. As of 2021, there will be 19 World Heritage Sites, comprising 2 combined sites and 17 cultural sites. In 2000, the Soumela Monastery in Trabzon was included in the short list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO.
Written by: Nirvana Property