Sümela Monastery to reopen next year

TRABZON - Anadolu Agency

Works have almost ended at one of the world’s most important faith tourism sites, Sümela Monastery in the eastern Black Sea province of Trabzon, which is set to reopen to
visitors soon.

The monastery, located on a dramatic cliff edge in the remote mountains, has been closed for work aiming to address dangers caused by rock masses around the Karadağ Mountain, where it is located. As part of the project at the site, overseen by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the rock structure in the monastery was initially studied and works have started in parallel with the report.

Industrial mountaineers worked to remove some of the rocks that created danger in the field and the work has now been largely completed. The final part of the project will be the removal of a 600-ton rock, and after completion part of the monastery is set to reopen in August 2018.

Trabzon Culture and Tourism Director Ali Ayvazoğlu said work was also being carried out in the Sümela Monastery itself, as well as the road leading to the
monastery.

Ayvazoğlu said the first stage of the rock removal works had been completed.

“Right now the biggest problem is breaking the 600-ton rock. We plan to finish this as soon as possible and then start cleaning work. I hope we will open the monastery completely by the end of 2018. Current restoration work will make it possible to visit all secret parts of the monastery, which visitors were not able to see in the past,” he added.