Sumela Monastery

Located within the boundaries of Altındere Village in Maçka District, the Sumela Monastery, also known as "Virgin Mary" among the people, is built on a steep cliff at the foot of Mount Karadağ, overlooking the Altındere Valley. Situated approximately 300 meters above the valley, its location continues the tradition of monasteries being built outside cities, in forests, caves, and near water sources. It is said that the monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, derives its name "Sumela" from the word "melas," meaning "black." While it is thought that this name comes from the dark colored Mount Karadağ mountains where the monastery is located, the word Sumela can also be linked to the black color of the Virgin Mary's image there. According to legend, the monastery was founded during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I (375-395) by two monks named Barnabas and Sophranios who came from Athens. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian ordered the monastery to be repaired and expanded, and it was subsequently repaired by one of his generals, Belisarius. It is known that the Sumela Monastery has existed in its current form since the 13th century. The library is located on the right side. Also on the right, the large balcony section covering the front of the slope was used as monks' cells and guest rooms and dates back to 1860. The buildings surrounding the courtyard show influences of Turkish art in the cupboards, cells, and fireplaces in the rooms. The interior and exterior walls of the rock church, which forms the main unit of the monastery, and the adjacent chapel are decorated with frescoes. Frescoes from the period of Alexios III have been identified on the wall facing the courtyard inside the rock church. The frescoes in the chapel date to the early 18th century and show three layers from three different periods. The frescoes of the lowest layer are of superior quality. The main subjects depicted in the frescoes of Sumela Monastery, which have been partially removed and are in a rather dilapidated state, are scenes from the Bible and depictions related to the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.