The monastery on the road between Trabzon and Erzurum is also known as Virgin Mary Monastery. According to a legend the monastery was built in 412 AD upon request of Mary from Barnabas and his nephew to build a monastery. It is known that this monastery was enlarged during the reign of Emperor Justinianus. Although it is supposed that the name Sumela stems from the dark hues of the mountain valley , another opinion is that the word Sumela is an adjective used for Mary
more »
