Vazelon Monastery

This monastery can be reached by two roads after 14 km from Maçka. The first road; It is a newly built stabilized road that diverges to the right after about 500 meters from Kiremitli coffees. The other one is the road from Kiremitli village to the valley, which takes 2.5-3 hours on foot. But this road is not preferred because it is laborious and longer. The first way is better and safer. Although the road to the monastery is steep, when we pass through the pine forests, breathe in the fragrance of beautiful flowers and see the virgin landscape, we realize that it is really worth the effort. At the end of the road, the monastery building appears in all its splendor.

It is highly probable that the building took its name Vazelon from “Mount Zabulon” on which it was built. The monastery was chosen in a deserted, quiet place because it was desired to give it a more sacred atmosphere (one of the important factors was the establishment of such structures in Trabzon and its environs around or near the “Ayazma” in which a holy water was found by the Christian people).

Although most researchers do not give the exact date of the building; some state the first construction date as 270 AD, some as 317 AD.

The monastery is dedicated to the Prophet John. However, it is certain that it has undergone various changes from its first foundation until today. It was repaired by Justinian between (527-565). In February 644, the cells were completely repaired and the library enriched. In 702 and the following years, it was substantially renovated. Vazelon Monastery continued to be active in the economic, social and cultural life of Maçka from the 13th century until the 20th century. In the 14th century, its land and income continued in twenty villages until 1890. Vazelon Monastery was once the most authoritative and richest of the monasteries in the region. According to a rumor; another Sumela Monastery could have been built with the income from Vazelon. The monastery was extensively restored in the 19th century. The building is entered by the staircase on the west side. Since the stair steps are broken, it is necessary to be careful when going up.

Today the ground floor is closed with deaf doors and windows. But when we go up to the first floor with the staircase mentioned above, we encounter a small vestibule. There are two narrow corridors to the right and left of this area. These corridors lead to a total of six rooms, three on the right and three on the left. The ceilings of the rooms are wooden and have not survived to the present day. It is believed that the additional part at the entrance was built in the 19th century. It consists of hard stones with a character of many windows with many windows.