SECRET PASSAGE AND A CHAPEL WERE DISCOVERED IN SUMELA MONASTERY
Sumela monastery is located in Trabzon, North East of Turkey. It is nested on a steep cliff at an altitude of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). lt was built in AD 386, during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I. During the 6th century, it was restored and enlarged at the behest of Justinian. ln the 13th century it took its final form. The monastery became famous for an icon of the Virgin Mary, known as the Panagia Gorgoepekoos, believed to have been painted by the Apostle Luke.
Student rooms, a library, a sacred spring of Orthodox Greeks, a guest house, a kitchen, a chapel and the main rock church are the important parts of the monastery. From September 2015 to May 2019 it was closed to public for renovations. During the renovations, archeologists discovered a secret passage which access to a chapel. Work was immediately launched to reveal the chapel and very well preserved frescoes depicting the "heaven and hell, and death and life". The chapel will be accessible to visitors, who will climb up a secret passage through corridors and use wooden ladders to reach it.
To reach the monastery; you can drive to a certain point; than you need to get out of vehicle and follow a path through the forest. The walk itself is part of the attraction because on the way, there are restaurants where you can rest, enjoy the view and taste local dishes. Black Sea breakfast is highly recommended.