6 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Monastery Behind the Clouds “Sümela”

Trabzon has hosted tens of civilizations throughout history, and as a result, it is home to a plethora of historical artifacts. The Sumela Monastery is undoubtedly the most remarkable among these works. This magnificent building is situated on a steep cliff in the Maçka district, within the borders of Altındere Village.

Sumela Monastery, also known as the Virgin Mary Monastery by locals, is situated at a height of 300 meters. The monastery was named after the Virgin Mary. And the word “Sumela” is thought to be derived from the Greek word “melas,” which means “black” in English.  The Black Mountains or the black portraits of the Virgin Mary are thought to be linked to the monastery’s name.

The monastery was founded by two monks, Sophronios and Barnabas, who came from Athens during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I, according to legend (AD 375- 395). General Belisarius, at Justinian I’s request, restored the building in the sixth century.

Sumela Monastery took its final form, which has survived to this day, in the 13th century, as far as is known. During the reign of Alexios III, the Principality of Trebizond-Komnenos, which was established in 1204, the monastery acquired even more significance. The monastery also continued to flourish during the reigns of Alexios’ son and subsequent princes who inherited the throne afterward.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The Era of the Turkish Dominance

After a while, the Turks took control of the Eastern Black Sea coasts. The rights of the Sumela Monastery, like those of many other monasteries, were preserved by the Ottoman Sultans, with some special privileges granted after Ottoman rule was extended to the Eastern Black Sea region. Some of the walls were frescoed in the 18th century, and the majority of them were restored. In the 19th century, this was accompanied by the construction of massive structures.

Under the aegis of the Voivodas, the Sumela Monastery expanded and grew richer during the 18th century, as many parts were rebuilt and restored, with some wall surfaces adorned with frescoes. The monastery’s remarkable golden years occurred in the nineteenth century, with the addition of large buildings and magnificent decorations paid for by various gifts sent from Greek Orthodox communities across Anatolia. Many travelers began to arrive from all over the world at this time to see the magnificent complex, which was constructed 1200 meters above sea level.

The Russian invasion of the Trebizond region from April 18, 1916, to February 24, 1918, gave hope to the restoration of a Christian state in Pontus. However, after the War of National Liberation in 1923, the monastery was abandoned as a result of forced population exchanges between Turkey and Greece.

It’s no surprise that the monastery is now mainly used as a tourist attraction, as it is situated in the stunning Altindere National Park, overlooking lush woods and water streams and blessed with a rich history and religious significance.

Extraordinary Complex

Sumela Monastery, which clings to a cliff 50 kilometers south of Trabzon, is a testament to human perseverance. Apart from the church, chapels, and monks’ rooms in the sprawling monastery, there are libraries that were once bookcases where valuable manuscripts were kept, kitchens and cellars where food was stored, and divisions used as holy spring. In addition to the architecture of the Sumela Monastery, which is an important cultural treasure whose appearance continues to fascinate visitors, it also has a number of frescoes that draw attention from the Bible.

Sumela Monastery (The Monastery of Virgin Mary), which was included on the UNESCO Tentative List in 2000, is one of the outstanding universal values of Turkey.

Related Articles

Georgia’s Holy City Mtskheta

13 March 2022

13 March 2022

Georgia’s ancient capital city, Mtskheta, is located 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tbilisi at the confluence of two mountainous...

Delikkemer Aqueduct: A Roman Engineering Wonder Along the Lycian Way

17 May 2025

17 May 2025

Hidden among the lush forests of southwestern Turkey, the Delikkemer Aqueduct stands as a testament to ancient Roman ingenuity. Located...

Saudi Arabia’s the Red Sea Project

7 February 2021

7 February 2021

Saudi Arabia is preparing a huge tourism project on the west coast of 28,000 square kilometers and will cover more...

City swallowed by sea now center of boat tours

10 September 2023

10 September 2023

The Kekova region, or Sunken City, which has remained under the sea after two major earthquakes in the sixth century...

Falaj al Misfah: Working for a thousand years

26 September 2021

26 September 2021

The village of Al Misfah Abriyeen is known for its lush oasis, magnificent orchards, and year-round water source, the ‘aflaj.’...

Rose Red City “Ancient City of Petra”

12 February 2021

12 February 2021

Petra is one of the most interesting ancient cities in the world.This beautiful city, one of the 7 wonders of...

Turkey’s Must-See Ancient Cities

23 March 2021

23 March 2021

From the classical cities scattered on the coast to the earliest archaeological sites that can be traced back to human...

Derinkuyu: A Subterranean Marvel of Ancient Engineering with 18 Levels and Capacity for 20,000 Inhabitants

2 May 2025

2 May 2025

Beneath the sun-drenched plains of Cappadocia, where otherworldly “fairy chimney” rock formations pierce the sky, lies a secret world carved...

The sunken city of God Krishna “Dwarka”

18 May 2022

18 May 2022

The legendary capital of Hindu god Lord Krishna, Dwarka is today one of the most famous submerged ancient cities underwater....

Ireland’s most beautiful round tower and Romanesque architecture

21 August 2021

21 August 2021

Romanesque means “from the Romans”, “descendant of the Romans”. This architectural style is called “Norman architectural style” in England and...

“Land of the Thousand Temples” Kancheepuram in India

20 May 2021

20 May 2021

Kancheepuram, one of the most sacred and religious Hindu pilgrim centers in India is also called the ‘Land of the...

Khirbet Midras pyramid and  Archaeological Site in Israel

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

Khirbet Midras (Arabic) or Horvat Midras (Hebrew) is one of several antiquities sites located within the Adullam Grove National Park,...

Unsolvable Megalithic Mystery of ancient Greek “Dragon Houses”

8 January 2025

8 January 2025

The Dragon Houses of Euboea, which probably dates to the Preclassical period of ancient Greece, are one of the historical...

India’s Ancient ‘Dwarf Chambers’: Hire Benkal’s 2,500-Year-Old Mysterious Megalithic Legacy

26 July 2025

26 July 2025

Tucked away in the rugged granite hills of Karnataka lies Hire Benkal, a vast prehistoric necropolis that silently guards the...

Al-Ula, The Living Museum of Ancient Arab Civilizations

12 February 2021

12 February 2021

Al-Ula oasis is located in the lush Wadi Al-Qura, or “valley of villages”, about 110 km southwest of the modern...