Sumela Monastery, high on the cliffs of Mount Mela in Turkey’s Trabzon Province, is a historic Byzantine site. It was established in 386 AD by two Athenian monks, Barnabas and Sophronius, who found a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave there. This icon, believed to be painted by St. Luke, made Sumela a key pilgrimage site. Over time, it gained support from Byzantine emperors and later Ottoman sultans, who let the monastery flourish even after they took control of the region.

The monastery’s architecture is equally impressive. It features structures carved directly into the steep rock, including chapels, living quarters, and a sacred spring. The Rock Church, the focal point, is adorned with 18th-century frescoes that depict biblical scenes and the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary. These vibrant frescoes, combined with the dramatic natural setting, make Sumela Monastery both a significant spiritual site and a stunning example of Byzantine art and architecture.