Virgin Mary Monastery (Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Virgin Mary Monastery (Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary) lies 45 km south of Trabzon. It hangs literally next to a rock at a height of several hundred meters, which makes an amazing impression. Until recently, in ruins, the monastery was restored and today is one of the main destinations for tourists coming to the Black Sea. In the middle there is a church carved in the rock with beautiful frescoes. The complex can be visited from. 9.00 18.00, introduction: 2,5 USD, students: 0,7 USD.

Admittedly, it is easy to get to the monastery on your own (first a dolmusz to the town of Macka, and then change to Sumeli), but because it may take a long time, it is better to use special minibuses provided by many companies. For a small fee (ok. 5 USD) they will take us to the place, we will have available there 2-3 time. and a guaranteed return. Such trips are organized, among others, by. by Ulusoy and Ani Tour. Most often Fr. 10.00, and Fr. 15.00. Ticket sales are carried out by company offices on the southeast corner of Ataturk Alani (from there also departure). A steep climb awaits us there (ok. 1200 m), which should not take more than 50 min.

According to tradition, the first monastery was built at the end of the 4th century., and it was founded by two monks from Athens, who when the Virgin Mary appeared to them, they came here with a holy icon depicting her (previously it was the property of St.. Luke) and hid in a built church. Because it was built on Czarna Góra (Mela), he was called Panayia tou Mela, that is, Saint Maria of the Black Mountain, where does today come from, the short name of Sumela. Historical records say, however, that the monastery was built at the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries., which of course doesn't, that no chapel or holy place could have existed here before.

Justinian the Great endowed the monastery with riches and ordered it to be rebuilt in order to enlarge the complex. Digested approx. 640 r. fire, monastery – as it seems – until the 10th century. was not rebuilt. The greatest times came during the reign of the Comnenian dynasty in Trabzon. He was probably crowned here in the mid-fourteenth century. Emperor Alexios III, which issued a special ordinance exempting monks from taxes and other benefits. After the conquest of the Comnenian state by the Turks, the monastery was not closed, and Selim I even gave him two silver candlesticks. In the eighteenth century. several buildings were added and the frescoes in the church were completed. The sad times came at the beginning of the 20th century. First, as a result of the Russian invasion, the monastery was abandoned (lived here over 30 monks), and during the Turkish-Greek war it was destroyed by fire. W 1923 r. monk's, who returned here after the Russians left, they leave their place eventually, and one hid the icon of the Virgin Mary and valuable items in a small church of St.. Barbary. In the early years 30. one of the monks returns, He finds the icon and brings them to Greece with other items. Here in 1952 r. the New Sumela Monastery is established, 100 km southwest of Thessaloniki. In years 70. restoration works have started in Sumeli, the effects of which are easy to see today.

The only entrance to the monastery is on the south side, and we come to him, climbing several dozen steps. First, we come across various organizational rooms (on the right, among others. toilets, and there is information, so as not to use them), and at the very bottom, the church in the grotto is clearly visible thanks to external frescoes. Opposite the church, on the other side of the courtyard, there were cells for monks and guest rooms for outsiders. Admittedly, frescoes in the church (pictures cannot be taken, by using flash, nor with a tripod) originally built around. X w., yours, which we see, come from the beginning of the 18th century, when the church was restored and painted again. The ceiling frescoes attract the most attention, huge images of the Virgin Mary with Child and Christ Pantocrator (Almighty). Most of the imaginations were destroyed by vandals, they have names and garbage written on them. The paintings also deteriorated in the years between the monks leaving the monastery and its restoration, exposed to external factors.

About 100 km southwest of Trabzon, near the town of Gumushane, there is a beautiful cave of Karaca, one of the greatest in Turkey. It is at a height 1500 m n.p.m., its length is 150 m, and the height 4 m (the highest point). It is full of stalactites, stalagmites and other formations, and the walls contain a lot of minerals that create a multi-colored mosaic. It's colder inside in summer, while in winter it is warmer than outside. On my own, at minimal cost, we won't get in here easily. First we go by bus to Gumushane, we get off behind the town of Torul, roughly halfway between Torul and Gumushane. The drivers have to say: Karaca Magarasi (Karaca cave, dim. Karadża), and he will stop at the appropriate exit. From here we have approx. 3 km. An easier solution is to participate in an organized trip, offered e.g.. by Afacan Tur, Iskele Cad.. 40/C, tel.: (462) 321 58 04, fax.: (462)321 7001 (filiaTHY). Tours run from mid-May to mid-September. Trip: 9.00, return: 19.00. In the cave, participants have at their disposal 3 time. Cost of the trip: 7 USD.