The Sumela Monastery is located in Altındere Valley and is known as the Greek Orthodox monastery and church. Its full name is Panagia Sumela. Although the exact date of the monastery is not known, it is thought that it was built between 365-395 after the date of the settlement.
According to the rumors, the two monks, Barnabas and Sophronios, who are located in the city of Athens, dream of the Virgin Mary. In his dreams, Mary asks the parents to have a monastery built and tells them where to build and how to do it. Upon this, the monks came from Athens to Trabzon by sea and found the cave on steep slopes and enlarged the cave and built the first places of worship. This first temple, 1300 meters above sea level, was built in 1360 by the 3rd king of Trabzon Commenos. It is enlarged in the period of Alexios and converted into a monastery 17 meters high, 40 meters long, 14 meters wide, with 72 rooms.
