The Greek Orthodox Soumela Monastery dedicated to the Holy Virgin (Panagia Sumela) located in Trabzon in Turkey will not be open this year on 15 August either, as according to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Turkish authorities have not given the relevant permission.

“This year, the Divine Liturgy will not be celebrated on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August) at the historic Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela, as the required permission was not granted by the relevant government authorities.”

The reasons for this refusal on the part of Turkey have not yet been made known.

Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Theotokos located at Karadağ within the Pontic Mountains, in the Maçka district of Trabzon Province in modern Turkey. It was founded in 386 AD.