Vazelon Monastery
The Vazelon Monastery is a former Greek Orthodox monastery from the 6th century in the forest in the Maçka district , about 50 km south of Trabzon on a rock above the Degirmendere river ( Altindere ). It was dedicated to St. John of Vazelon .
history
The origins are believed to be from the 3rd century. The actual monastery was built by Emperor Justinian in 565 and used as a signal station against attacks by enemy hill tribes. It was connected to Trabzon by a cobblestone road (Königsstrasse). In the course of time it has been expanded and restored many times. It was the richest monastery in the region and the money from Vazelon was probably used to rebuild Sumela monastery after a fire in 640. The Vazelon Monastery has had a major impact on the religious, cultural and economic life of the region. The monastery was abandoned in 1923 with the Turkish-Greek population exchange and then heavily devastated. Today there are only ruins there. When the Greeks were expelled from Turkey during the First World War, the monastery served as a refuge for hundreds of refugees.
building
The monastery building, which is still visible now, dates from the 15th century. There is a main building in which the monks' cells, kitchen, study rooms, refectory, etc. are housed. There are three Byzantine chapels nearby. The frescoes on the north outer wall of the Johanneskapelle, the Manuel III. Built in 1410 are still well preserved and represent heaven, hell and the Last Judgment. There is also a holy spring with a vaulted cistern.
Web links
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- Turkish Ministry of Tourism
- New York Times June 16, 1918
- Baedeker Turkey
Coordinates: 40 ° 45 ′ 35 ″ N , 39 ° 31 ′ 48.2 ″ E