For the first time since 2010, the historic Sumela Monastery in Trabzon’s Altındere Valley hosted an Orthodox Christian ceremony on August 23, rather than the traditional date of August 15, which is revered as the “Day of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.” The event, typically led by Fener Rum Patriarch Bartholomeos, was instead conducted by Patriarch Stefanos Dinidis from the Gelibolu Metropolitanate.
Access to the monastery was restricted, with vehicles barred from the road leading from Maçka after 08:00, and only those attending the ceremony were permitted entry. Attendance was notably lower than in previous years, with about 50 Orthodox Christians from Greece and Georgia participating.
Orthodox Christian services were first allowed at Sumela Monastery after 88 years on August 15, 2010. However, the monastery was closed in 2015 for restoration due to the risk of falling rocks, leading to a suspension of religious services for four years.
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