TOURISM: Sumela Monastery
August 18, 2008 – 3:22 pm
Travel to Turkey
Famous monastery Sumela is in Trabzon, Turkey. It is located at the top of a cliff. The altitude of Sumela Monastery is 1.150 meters. The building includes a Greek Monastery and a church.
There are legends about the name of the monastery. It is claimed that Christian Greeks were saying “stou mela” when they wanted something from Panagania Icon. The claim is supported with another name. Sumela Monastery was also called as “the virgin of Mela”.
Architecture of Sumela Monastery
The church is predicted to be built in 3AD. There is not much data about what happened before it became a monastery. A famous story about Sumela Monastery is like that: Two monks dream the same thing. They dream that Pagania Icon made by Saint Luke is at Sumela. They come here without knowing each other and meet there. They start to build the first church.
There is a church, rooms, library, kitchen and other rooms at Sumela Monastery. Every part connects you to some other. At the top of a cliff, imagine series of rooms. Stairs lead you to the upper and other parts of the construction.
Walls of church are full of frescoes. The greatest of these frescoes depicts the birth of Virgin Mary, birth of Jesus Christ, their lives. Some paintings from the Bible can be found under them. This great fresco is found on the south wall of monastery. At the south gate of the Sumela the death of Mary and followers are depicted. At the east gate Genesis, Adam and Eve, the first sin, their punishment, and resurrection are found with frescoes. Some frescoes depict angels, Mikhail and the angel of death. These frescoes are the elements making monastery such important and beautiful. However, unfortunately some of them are damaged. Monastery is an old construction. Time, human factor and nature damaged monastery. Many times it was restored, but there are still parts that are not in good conditions.
The balcone of the Sumela Monastery does not look like such old. It is a part added after hundreds of years. It is predicted that balcony was used by monks and quests. From there, you can watch the charming scenery.
Visiting Sumela Monastery
Sumela Monastery is a tourism attraction place. Especially after restoration more and more people began to visit it. It is a tourism center, but government is worried about that. The current situation of monastery requires special care. There are some precautions that visitors should take. In order to keep this unique building, we should be more careful.
Generally Black Sea tours include Sumela Monastery to their schedules. There is accommodation option near Sumela, there are restaurants close to the area. After visiting Sumela, you can stay in the area.
The atmosphere combines culture, history, religion, architecture, archeology, nature and aesthetics. Finding all these at one place is not possible every time. Sumela Monastery is the only example of its type. If you go Trabzon, certainly visit this mysteries place and have great time.