10th service in Sumela Monastery
In Sümela Monastery in Trabzon’s Maçka district, a ritual was held on 15 August, which is considered sacred by Orthodox Christians as the day of the Virgin Mary’s ascension to heaven. Nearly 350 people from Greece, Russia and Georgia attended the service led by Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos.
In the historical Sumela Monastery, a ritual was held on 15 August, which is considered sacred by Orthodox Christians as the day of the Virgin Mary’s ascension to heaven.
Bartholomew Bartholomew, the Greek Patriarch of Fener, led the service, which was held for the 10th time since 2010.
Due to the ritual, no vehicles were allowed to pass from Maçka to the monastery road after 08.00, and no visitors were admitted to Sümela except those who would come to the ritual.
Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos first greeted the participants of the service upon his arrival at the monastery.
Nearly 350 people from Greece, Russia and Georgia attended the service, while Trabzonspor’s Greek football players Bakasetas and Kourbelis were among the participants.
The Patriarch then went to the section allocated to him for preparation, changed his clothes for the ritual and came to the courtyard where the ritual would be held accompanied by hymns and led the ritual.
The service lasted approximately 1.5 hours.
4 YEARS BREAK
After 88 years, for the first time since 15 August 2010, the Christian Orthodox were allowed to perform rituals in Sümela Monastery for one day once a year for the first time after 15 August 2010, and the Sümela Monastery, which was closed to visitors on 22 September 2015 due to the risk of rock fall and under restoration, was closed for 4 years after 2015.
