The Greek Orthodox monastery and church complex in the former monastery of Sumela
The church is believed to have been built between AD 375-395. Frequently encountered in Anatolia Cappadocia churches built in the style, even the church there is a cave-like area in Trabzon Maşatlık. Become the first establishment of the church and the monastery is not known much about the transformation between the thousand-year period. According to the legend of the Black Sea Greeks from Athenian Sophronios with two monks Barnabas saw the same dream, dream, Jesus, the disciples of St. Luka icon they have three of Panagia, the icon of Mary holding baby Jesus, is located in the arms of the Sumela ' They saw the place. Then come to Trabzon by sea, as ignorant of each other, told each other, and there encounters dreams they have taken the first foundation of the church. However, the frescoes of the monastery took place frequently, given a special importance to Trabzon Emperor III. Aleksios'un (1349-1390) founder of the monastery is believed to be true.
14. Turkmen raids century monastery, who was also exposed outpost in the defense of the city's status has not changed after the Ottoman conquest. Yavuz Sultan Selim in Trabzon during the two large chandeliers here as a gift to the prince, Sultan Mehmed II. Murat, I. Selim II. Selim III. Murad Ibrahim, IV. Mehmed II. Solomon and III. Ahmed is the edicts of a cloistered. Concessions provided to the monastery during the Ottoman period, especially during the Islamization of Macka in Trabzon and Gumushane and a secret Christian and Christian villages in the northern Gümüşhane has created an area surrounded by .
18 April 1916 which lasted until 24 February 1918 during the Russian invasion of other monasteries near Macka, such as seeking to establish an independent Greek state of Pontus, was the headquarters of the militia, with an exchange of populations after sending the region into oblivion due to the Christians of Turkey to Greece The fate of the abandoned until recently by the Ministry of Culture is repaired.
Exchange with the Black Sea Greeks in Greece who moved to the town of Veria Sumela have built a new church which they called. Each year in August, just as they did in the past, the new monastery around Trabzon Sümela'da organize well-attended festivals.
In 2010, with the permission of the government in the Republic of Turkey adopted by Christians as the day of the ascension of the Virgin Mary into heaven, and sacred ritual held on 15th August in the first after an interval of 88 years, Dimitri Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew led the liturgy.
