18 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

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...

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...

Explore 1,400-year-old ruins, submerged in Eastern China – Atlantis of China

10 June 2023

10 June 2023

Deep in Qiandao Lake, between China’s Five Lion Mountains, lie the mysterious ruins of two ancient cities, dating back to...

The Enigmatic Architecture of Sacsayhuaman: The Sacred Stronghold of Massive Stones and Mysteries

14 March 2025

14 March 2025

Sacsayhuaman Fortress, located just outside Cusco, Peru, is one of the most astonishing archaeological complexes in the world. Initiated by...

Birkleyn Caves is “the Place Where The World Ends”

18 January 2025

18 January 2025

The Birkleyn Caves were known as “the place where the world ends” and as “the place where the water of...

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...

Ancient Greeks Built a Road to Haul Cargo Overland: The Father of the Railway: Diolkos

6 May 2024

6 May 2024

The Diolkos, an ambitious road that crossed the entire Isthmus of Corinth and was partially paved with stone, was built...

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,...

Istanbul’s Iron Church of Unique Beauty

1 November 2021

1 November 2021

The Bulgarian Church of St. Stephens was constructed like a cross-shaped Basilica. St. Stephen Church is also known as The...

Georgian churches of Artvin, Turkey’s natural wonder city

6 April 2022

6 April 2022

Artvin is a city in northeastern Turkey about 30 km inland from the Black Sea. It is located on a...

A Byzantine Princess, a Mongol Khan, and a Church: The Bloody Church and Its Unknown History

13 May 2025

13 May 2025

Nestled at the base of the imposing Phanar Greek Orthodox College, a landmark intrinsically linked to the panoramic vistas of...

The Ancient City of Kilistra, Cappadocia of Konya’s

1 February 2021

1 February 2021

When we talk about fairy chimneys, churches and underground cities, the first place that comes to mind is Cappadocia between...

Leshan Giant Buddha and its History

22 March 2022

22 March 2022

Leshan Giant Buddha or Chinese name:乐山大佛 (Leshan Dafo) is the best indication that there is no such thing as impossible...

Egypt’s Lost city “Thonis-Heracleion”

6 September 2021

6 September 2021

Thonis-Heracleion (Egyptian and Greek names of the city) is a port city lost between myth and reality until 1999. Few...

Discovering the rare works of Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum

13 October 2021

13 October 2021

The Sanlıurfa Archaeology Museum building involves many main attributes, such as the largest enclosed space and exhibition hall museum in...