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| The '''Sumela Monastery''' ({{lang-tr|Sümela Manastırı}}, {{lang-el|Μονή Παναγίας Σουμελά}}, ''Moní Panagías Soumelá''), is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the ] (], meaning "All Holy" in Greek) at Melá mountain, in the region of ] in the ] of modern ]. Nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of about {{convert|1200|m|ft|adj=off}} facing the Altındere valley, it is a site of great historical and cultural significance, as well as a major tourist attraction of ]. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| The monastery was founded in 386 AD during the reign of the Emperor ] (375 - 395),<ref name="kultur"> (Archived from September 29, 2007). Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism.</ref> Legend has it that two priests undertook its creation after discovering a miraculous icon of the ] in a cave on the mountain. | |||
| During its long history, the monastery fell into ruin several times and was restored by various emperors. During the 6th century, it was restored and enlarged by General ] at the behest of ].<ref name="kultur"/> | |||
| It reached its present form in the 13th century after gaining prominence during the reign of ] (1349 - 1390) of the ] ], established in 1204. At that time, the monastery was granted an amount annually from imperial funds. During the time of ], son of Alexius III, and during the reigns of subsequent princes, Sumela gained further wealth from imperial grants. Following the conquest by the ] ] ] in 1461, it was granted the sultan's protection and given rights and privileges that were renewed by following sultans. The monastery remained a popular destination for monks and travelers through the years. | |||
| In 1682 and for a few decades, the monastery housed the ], a well-known Greek educational institution of the region.<ref>{{cite web | last=Salvanou |first=Emilia | title=Φροντιστήριο Τραπεζούντας | url=http://www.ehw.gr/asiaminor/Forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=6622 | accessdate=2010-10-14|work=Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία}}</ref> | |||
| The monastery was seized by the Russian Empire during the 1916-18 occupation of Trabzon.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} | |||
| The site was abandoned in 1923, following forced population exchanges between ] and Turkey. The departing monks were not allowed to take any property with them, so they buried Sumela's famous icon under the floor of the monastery's St. Barbara chapel. In 1930, a monk secretly returned to Sumela and retrieved the icon, transferring it to the new ], on the slopes of Mount ], near the town of ], in ], ]. | |||
| Today the monastery's primary function is as a tourist attraction. It overlooks forests and streams, making it extremely popular for its aesthetic attraction as well as for its cultural and religious significance. | |||
| As of 2012, the Turkish government is funding restoration work, and the monastery is enjoying a revival in pilgrimage from Greece and Russia. | |||
| On 15 August 2010, ] ] was allowed to take place in the monastery compound.<ref>{{cite web |last=''Euronews'' | title=Rare Orthodox mass held at Turkish monastery| url=http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/15/rare-orthodox-mass-held-at-turkish-monastery/ | accessdate=2011-04-14}}</ref><ref>, ], retrieved from ]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=''Qantara.de'' | title=Greek Orthodox Liturgy in Turkey: Uncovering the Country's Non-Muslim Cultural Heritage| url=http://en.qantara.de/wcsite.php?wc_c=8374 | accessdate=2011-08-02}}</ref> A special pass issued by the ] is now required to visit on ], the day of the ] or ], when a ] is held. Only 450 to 500 visitors are allowed inside the monastery, although widescreen televisions are available to observe the event at a cafe some hundred meters away from the monastery. | |||
| ==Construction and buildings== | |||
| The principal elements of the Monastery complex are the Rock Church, several chapels, kitchens, student rooms, a guesthouse, a library, and a sacred spring revered by ]. | |||
| The large aqueduct at the entrance, which supplied water to the Monastery, is constructed against the side of the cliff. The aqueduct has many arches which have mostly been restored. The entrance to the Monastery leads up a long and narrow stairway. There is a guard-room next to the entrance. The stairs lead down from there to the inner courtyard. On the left, in front of a cave, there are several monastery buildings. The cave, which was converted into a church, constitutes the center of the monastery. The library is to the right. | |||
| The large building with a balcony on the front part of the cliff was used for the monks' cells and for housing guests. It dates from 1840. | |||
| The influence of Turkish {{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} art can be observed in the design of the cupboards, niches and fireplace in the rooms of the buildings surrounding the courtyard. | |||
| The inner and outer walls of the Rock Church and the walls of the adjacent chapel are decorated with frescoes. Frescoes dating from the era of ] line the inner wall of the Rock Church facing the courtyard. {{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} The frescoes of the chapel which were painted on three levels in three different periods are dated to the beginning of the 18th century. The frescoes of the bottom band are of superior quality. | |||
| The frescoes of the the monastery are seriously damaged. The main subject of the frescoes are biblical scenes telling the story of Christ and the Virgin Mary. | |||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:Sumela interior.JPG |Interior | |||
| Image:Rock Church frescoes, Sumela.JPG|Frescoes | |||
| Image:Rock Church, Sumela.JPG|Rock Church | |||
| Image:Sümela Manastırının iç kısmı.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela view1.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela view3.JPG | |||
| Image:Sumela-013.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-012.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-011.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-009.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-008.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-007.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-006.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-005.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-004.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-003.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-002.jpg | |||
| Image:Sumela-001.jpg | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| ==References== | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Commons category|Sumela}} | |||
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| {{Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Sumela Monastery}} | |||
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Revision as of 16:28, 29 April 2013
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