Located in the Trabzon province of Türkiye, the Sümela Monastery is one of the most impressive religious structures in the world.

Founded in 386 during the reign of the Roman emperor Theodosius I, the monastery is built on a steep cliff in the Altmdere valley, at an alтιтude of 1,200 meters above sea level.

During its long history, the monastery was damaged many times and was restored by different emperors.

The monastery reached its present form in the 13th century after rising to prominence during the reign of Alexios III, emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

For centuries, Sümela has been an important religious center for the Greek Orthodox community. During its heyday, an entire town existed around the monastery to cater to the needs of pilgrims.

However, after World War I, the Greeks in the area were forced to leave due to the population exchange between Greece and Türkiye. Since then, the monastery has been abandoned for decades before being partially restored as a museum and tourist attraction.

The main features of the monastery complex are the Rock Church, several chapels, a kitchen, a lecture hall, a guest house, a library, and a holy spring revered by Eastern Orthodox believers

The interior and exterior walls of the Stone Church and the walls of the adjacent chapel are decorated with frescoes dating from the 12th-13th centuries, which are of great historical and artistic value.

During the 2015–2017 restoration of the Sümela Monastery, a secret tunnel was discovered leading to what is believed to be a shrine or chapel for believers.

The two-millennium-old monastery is now included in UNESCO’s list of sites that are slated to be nominated as a World Heritage Site.