Day 02 Sunday July
25, 2004
Trabzon ,Sumela Monastary
Submitted by Nancy Thole
thoconfam@yahoo.com
Groan - super early wake up! The hotel had coffee ready and the driver
was standing by for the trip to the airport. Easy access to the
terminal, easy security, no problems and an easy flight into Trabzon.Let
the adventure begin.
Trabzon is a fairly large city with a distinct recreational feel to it.
Travel bus and driver Hussein were waiting for us at our arrival.Our morning stop was at Saint Sophia Cathedral
which is located on a picturesque hillside overlooking the Black
Sea. This structure is considered to be the most important building of
the Byzantine period in the region.
The name of the cathedral does not
represent an individual named Sophia. The words mean sacred or
holy wisdom.The building was constructed between 1238 and 1263. The
church was transformed into a mosque afterthe Ottoman conquest of 1461. The
structure was restored between 1958 and 1962 and opened as a museum in
1964. St. Sophias has many beautiful frescoes, mostly depicting
scenes from the Old Testament. These frescoes are in surprisingly
good condition. Images of the Holy Family give one pause to think
about individual perception and how our perceptions form our own
reality. The blond, blue eyed, western Caucasian Jesus and family is
not the perception of Asia.
There is an interesting burial ground included that shows evidence of burial markers from four periods of development.
We had morning refreshment at an attached
tea garden that included some yummy cheese goodies. Also a replica
of a typical home of the period that was made entirely of wood - no
nails because of rusting.The afternoon's adventure was to the Sumela
monastery which was built into the steep side of Kora mountain
overlooking the Mother Mary Valley. The structure was built inside
of a cave. The importance of the monastery which is the oldest
Christian Temple in the Black Sea region is the unnatural setting of the
monastery located in the wonderful beauty of the surrounding land.
In addition to the natural beauty, the decorations and frescoes within
the buildings are worth noting. There has been considerable
natural and man-induced damage to the art within the buildings.
An easier long walk down (versus even longer walk up - how did
that happen?) A mini-bus ride that was not as harrowing as when we
came up and finally, Hussein waiting for us in the parking lot with the
bigger bus. Back to Trabzon and the Hotel Horon for dinner and
bed.
NANCIE THOLES FAVORITE PICTURES OF THE TOUR
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 Camel
with Attitude |
 Boys
of the village |
|
Lemon and Garlic
