Historical Sümela Monastery Defies Gravity on Cliffside

• Sümela Monastery reopened to the general public in 2019 after 4 years of restoration.

• The monastery is among the oldest Christian websites, courting again to the 4th century.

• It was based by Greek Orthodox monks Barnabas and Sofronios, who discovered an icon in a cave.

Vacationers comply with a slender, winding highway to Sümela Monastery, set on a cliff 1,200 meters above sea stage in Trabzon, Turkey.

This Greek Orthodox web site, devoted to the Virgin Mary and established within the late 4th century, has reopened its first part to the general public in 2019 after a four-year restoration.

“It’s my second time in Turkey, and final time I missed out on this monastery,” stated Ali Madi, a Canadian vacationer. “Fortunately, I occurred to be right here as we speak on the opening day, so I’m fairly enthusiastic about it. It seems to be superb.”

The monastery beforehand had chapels, a library, and a sacred spring. Nevertheless, rock falls and earthquakes triggered vital harm, in line with TRT Information.

Restoration crews have eliminated 4,000 tons of rock and particles to restore the positioning.

“For Greece, this can be a large occasion as a result of this church, this monastic monastery as we are saying, has an enormous worth for the Greeks,” stated Maria Zacharaki, a Greek journalist. “We got here right here in an effort to see it. I feel they’ve accomplished an excellent job right here. Excellent work.”

The monastery lately fell into disrepair, however the authorities has stepped in to fund its restoration, aiming to protect cultural and non secular heritage.

The Sümela Monastery is at present on the UNESCO World Heritage Web site’s Tentative Checklist.

The monastery, one of many oldest Christian websites courting again to the 4th century, will get its identify from “melas,” which suggests “darkish” and will confer with the close by Karadağ (Black Mountain).

Located on a slender path, the monastery was reportedly based by Greek Orthodox monks Barnabas and Sofronios, who discovered an icon in a cave.

Manuel III, who was in energy from 1390 to 1417, was keenly involved in spiritual buildings and donated a chunk of the True Cross to Sümela Monastery.

Despite the fact that the relic is now not there, its previous presence highlights the monastery’s historic worth.

The monastery’s spotlight is its church, carved right into a rock face and embellished with 18th and Nineteenth-century frescoes.

Guests can see three layers of those detailed work on nearer examination.

Within the 18th and Nineteenth centuries, Sümela Monastery grew significantly after the Ottomans took over Trabzon.

The Ottomans protected the monastery and different spiritual websites, resulting in a singular mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural kinds, together with pointed arches and fireplaces.

The monastery is known for its therapeutic waters, attracting Muslims and Christians for hundreds of years.

Guests typically collect water from the small waterfall on the cliffside, believing it has restorative properties.

Furthermore, the monastery offers spectacular views of its space, house to numerous spiritual websites like monasteries, church buildings, and chapels.

In 1923, Sümela Monastery was deserted after the monks departed. It reopened in 2010 for the Ascension of the Virgin Mary after intensive renovations.

Right this moment, the monastery attracts many guests and showcases Turkey’s wealthy cultural heritage.

The monastery could appear like a fortress from the skin, however inside, it feels extra like a village, inviting exploration.

Getting there requires a whole lot of strolling, however the beautiful mountain-side views make it definitely worth the effort.

Guests enter via a small door on the prime of an historic staircase, which nonetheless bears images exhibiting the way it appeared up to now.

The monastery has a number of rooms the place frescoes are nonetheless seen, providing a window into historical past.

Whereas Sümela Monastery is believed to have been based within the 4th century, most surviving constructions date to the thirteenth century.

Take a tour inside the traditional monastery within the video beneath: