Panagia Sumela is one of the oldest monasteries located in the north-east of Turkey, 48 km from the city of Trabzon. The uniqueness of the complex lies primarily in its centuries-old history, which spans more than 16 centuries. The method of construction of Panagia Sumela itself is also of interest: the structure was carved into the rocks at an altitude of more than 300 m above sea level. In addition, for many centuries the walls of the sanctuary contained the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary “Odigitria of Sumel”, after which the temple was named.
There is a legend that claims that the icon with the face of the Virgin Mary was written by St. Luke, the patron saint of artists and doctors. It is believed that the apostle repeatedly witnessed the miraculous healings that Jesus Christ gave to sinners during his earthly life. Saint Luke also wrote one of the Gospels that have survived to this day, and is the first iconographer.
If you are hearing about the icon of Panagia Sumela for the first time and have no idea what they are praying for, then you should know that the prayer of Hodegetria of Sumela helps in healing a number of ailments. Especially often women who have problems with conceiving a child turn to her.
Such a monumental structure as Panagia Sumela is of interest not only among Christians, but also among representatives of other faiths. Some tourists come to the monastery from the resort towns of Turkey, for others the attraction becomes the main purpose of their trip to the country. Although the interior of the temple is no longer decorated with elaborate Byzantine paintings and ornaments, which were mercilessly destroyed by time and looters, the building managed to preserve its grandeur and sacred atmosphere.
Historical background
After the death of St. Luke, the icon of Panagia Managed to be carefully preserved for a long time by the Greeks, who enclosed the shrine in a church in the city of Thebes. During the reign of Theodosius I, the Mother of God appeared to a priest from Athens, who called him and his nephew to devote their lives to monasticism. Then, taking the new names of Barnabas and Sophronius, at the behest of the Virgin, they went to the temple of Thebes, told the local priests about the revelation that had happened, after which the servants gave them the icon. Then, together with the miraculous face, they went east to Mount Mela, where they built a monastery in 386.
Knowing what the Panagia Soumela icon helps with and what miraculous healings it shows, pilgrims from European countries began to actively visit the monastery even before its construction was completed. Despite the great popularity and inaccessibility of the church, vandals tried to plunder it several times. The greatest damage was inflicted on the monastery at the end of the 6th century, when looters plundered most of the shrines, but the icon of the Virgin still managed to survive. In the middle of the 7th century, the monastery was completely restored and numerous pilgrims returned to it again.
During the time of the Trebizond Empire (the Greek Orthodox state formed after the collapse of Byzantium), the Panagia Sumela monastery experienced its highest flourishing. In the period from the 13th to the 15th centuries, each ruler patronized the temple, expanding its possessions and granting new powers. Even with the arrival of the Ottoman conquerors in the Black Sea region, the Panagia Sumela Monastery received numerous privileges from the Turkish padishahs and was considered almost inviolable. This continued until the beginning of the 20th century.
After the First World War broke out, the monks left the monastery, which was later looted by Turkish vandals. Almost all the wall paintings were destroyed, and many holy faces had their eyes knocked out. But one monk still managed to hide the icon: the servant managed to bury it in the ground. Only in 1923, the shrine was unearthed and taken to Greece, where it is kept to this day. Today, the monastery does not operate, but many visitors to Turkey do not stop, and they study the historical Orthodox complex with great interest.
Structure of the monastery
Panagia Sumela in Turkey consists of several large and small buildings, among which you can see a Stone Church, a hotel where pilgrims once stayed, monks ‘ cells, a library, kitchens and chapels. On the approach to the monastery is a dilapidated fountain, which in the old days was used to store water from mountain springs. It is said that it could heal many ailments.
The center of the monastery was a cave in the rock, once reconstructed as a church. In its exterior and interior decoration, there are remnants of frescoes based on scenes from the Bible. In some chapels, you can also see half-erased images of the Virgin and Christ. Not far from the building is an aqueduct, which previously supplied the monastery with water. The structure is formed by numerous arches, which were successfully restored during the restoration work.
Vandals did not manage to completely destroy the temple due to the fact that most of the surviving buildings of the monastery are carved into the rocks, and not laid out of stone. Since 2010, at the insistence of the Ecumenical Patriarch, a divine service has been held in this monastery in Turkey every year on August 28 in honor of the Mother of God.
How to get
Panagia Sumela Monastery, whose photos clearly demonstrate its greatness, is located in a remote mountainous area in the north-eastern part of Turkey. There are three different ways to get here. The easiest option is to buy an excursion tour from a travel company in Trabzon. The agency will provide you with a bus that will take you to and from your destination. In addition, you will be accompanied by a guide, which will make your visit to the attraction more exciting and informative. The cost of such a tour starts from 60 TL.
If you want to get to Panagia Sumela on your own, then you will need to order a taxi or rent a car. The price of a taxi ride will be at least 150 TL. You can rent an economy class car from 145 TL per day. Take the E 97 highway, go to the sign that says Maçka, and then turn into the mountains to reach the parking station. No matter which option you prefer, you will need to walk about 2 km from the parking lot to the temple on a steep mountain slope.
Practical information
- Address: Altındere Mahallesi, Altındere Vadisi, 61750 Macca / Trabzon, Turkey.
- Opening hours: during the summer season, the monastery is open from 09: 00 to 19: 00, in winter-from 08: 00 to 16: 00.
- Visit fee: 25 TL.
Useful tips
- When going to this monastery in Turkey, be sure to wear comfortable sports shoes. After all, you will have to overcome a distance of 2 km in a mountainous area.
- Don’t forget to bring water with you. Please note that there is a cafe only at the foot of the mountain. It is quite possible that a few light snacks will not hurt you either.
- Change your money to Turkish liras in advance. Our currency is accepted at an unfavorable rate.
- Remember that in the mountains the air temperature is always lower, so when you go on the road, be sure to bring warm clothes.
