The Soumela Monastery is found in a remote valley in northeastern Turkey, a few hours drive from the Black Sea port town of Trabzon. founded in the 4th century, it is one of the great old Byzantine monasteries, a holdover from an ancient, imperial Christianity. It seems to hang off of the cliffs of the mountain, as if by magic, but the buildings front a shallow shelf, behind with there is a cave church covered inside and outside with frescoes. It’s one of the great sites of Eastern Turkey. To see more images, check out my Gallery page.