The historic Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon has achieved a record-breaking number of visitors, as indicated by official data released by the region's cultural and tourism authority. In the initial nine months of this year, the visitor count reached 402,718, surpassing the 289,297 recorded during the previous year.
Panagia Soumela is an immensely significant and historically renowned Orthodox pilgrimage site, cherished worldwide and a prominent hub for religious tourism. The monument was completely reopened to the public on July 1, 2021, following extensive restoration efforts conducted in recent years, leading to an unprecedented surge in visitor numbers annually.
Notably, the historic monastery had been temporarily closed in September 2015 due to necessary safety repairs involving unstable rocks. After nearly five years, specifically on July 28, 2020, the monument partially reopened for public access while restoration work continued. Completing these efforts coincided with an overwhelming public interest in visiting the monastery and admiring this iconic Orthodox pilgrimage site.
