Sumela monastery is expected to reopen at the end of June

The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, is optimistic that the historic Sumela Monastery will reopen, referring to the restoration and field work of the historic monastery, which has lasted almost five years. The monastery is about to reopen this year on August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

According to the Turkish minister, the completion of the works was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Turkey and to the inaccessibility of this rocky area.

Access to the problematic areas where there are landslides is only possible with special climbers’ crews, said the Turkish minister, who assured that work has been accelerated so that the Sumela Monastery can be opened this season, perhaps in late June and early July.

Source: Orthodoxtimes.com