Soumela Monastery

Sumela Monastery
Sumela Manastırı
Close-up of Sumela monastery from across the valley
Basic information
Location	Maçka, Trabzon Province, Turkey
Geographic coordinates	40°41′31″N 39°39′28″E / 40.69194°N 39.65778°E / 40.69194; 39.65778
Affiliation	Greek Orthodox
Country	Turkey
Completed	386 AD

Sumela Monastery (Greek: Μονή Παναγίας Σουμελά, Moní Panagías Soumelá; Turkish: Sümela Manastırı) is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Panagia, meaning "All Holy" in Greek) at Melá Mountain (Turkish: Karadağ, which is a direct translation of the Greek name Ssou Melá, "Black Mountain") within the Pontic Mountains (Turkish: Kuzey Anadolu Dağları) range, in the Maçka district of Trabzon Province in modern Turkey.

According to another version of decryption of the monastery complex name, it comes from Laz word sumela which means "Trinity" in English.

Nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) facing the Altındere valley, it is a site of great historical and cultural significance, as well as a major tourist attraction within Altındere National Park. Due to an increase in rock falls, on 22 September 2015 the monastery was closed to the public for safety reasons for the duration of one year to resolve the problem; this was later extended to three years. It is scheduled to reopen for visitors on Assumption day 2018.

The monastery was founded in AD 386 during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I (375 - 395), According to William Miller, Barnabas and Sophronios, two Athenian monks, founded the monastery. It became famous for an icon of the Virgin Mary known as the Panagia Gorgoepekoos, said to have been painted by the Apostle Luke.