Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Ultranationalist and Islamist groups have called on the public to gather at Sümela Monastery in the northeastern Turkish province of Trabzon to block the annual ritual of the Assumption of Mary, organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and scheduled to take place on August 23. The event, previously set for August 15, had been postponed to the following week by the governor’s office due to reactions from nationalist groups since it coincided with the anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Trabzon.
Groups led by retired admiral Cihat Yaycı, who heads the Turkish Maritime and Global Strategies Center, had made official attempts to block the service, but the governor’s office had permitted it to proceed. Now these groups are calling on residents of Trabzon to prevent it from taking place, urging people to hold a vigil in front of the monastery starting in the early morning hours.
During an August 21 press conference at the Trabzon Journalists Association, Yaycı said such rituals, which he claims support Greek propaganda, separatism and anti-state activities, should be banned. Yaycı stated that while anyone can come and light a candle or do whatever they want, a ritual conducted under the auspices of Patriarch Bartholomew I, whom he refers to as the “Black Priest,” cannot be considered acceptable. “We are here, and we will stay here until this ritual is stopped. We will not allow it to take place,” he said.
Yaycı said they would hold a vigil in front of Sümela Monastery, stating, “Patriarch Bartholomew and his followers cannot come here and perform the ritual.” He called on all Trabzon residents to prevent the service from taking place and urged all Turkish patriots — those who identify as Turkish and those who consider themselves Muslim — to oppose it.
Yaycı also criticized secular groups for their indifference, declaring, “Our state, our nation, our religion, our heritage, our history, our republic and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk [founder of the Turkish Republic] are being attacked.”
In response to the rescheduling of the August 15 event at Sumela Monastery to August 23, local media reported that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew would not attend this year’s ceremony and would instead send an assistant to oversee the event. Yaycı later described the patriarch’s absence as a success due to their efforts.
Yaycı is among the close associates of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was with Erdogan during an unsuccessful coup attempt on July 15, 2016 and was heard whispering to Erdogan during the president’s televised address on CNN Türk that night. After the abortive putsch, Yaycı played a crucial role in the purge of Erdogan opponents and pro-NATO officers from the military. He is also the developer of software called “Fetometre,” which was employed to identify members of the Gülen movement, a group critical of Erdogan. However, according to the software he himself developed, Yaycı also received a score indicating his affiliation with the movement. He is also a strong supporter of a controversial doctrine called Blue Homeland, which is based on Turkey’s interests in the Mediterranean.
Yaycı claims that the rituals conducted at Sumela Monastery are part of a plan orchestrated by members of the Gülen movement.
Among the groups supporting Yaycı is the Vatan (Homeland) Party, led by nationalist figure Doğu Perinçek, a supporter of Erdogan’s government. The patriarchate’s political ambitions are highlighted in a report published by the party’s media outlet, Aydınlık, with the article headlined, “Challenging the Constitution.”
Groups supporting Yaycı include members of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of Erdogan. Arzu Erdem, who has served three terms as an MHP parliamentarian and is closely aligned with party leader Devlet Bahçeli, visited Trabzon on August 21. Along with Yaycı, Erdem met with the governor and police department to advocate for the cancellation of the ritual
Erdem has said on social media that they are committed to standing firmly against those attempting to undermine the unity and solidarity of the region. She emphasized that they will not tolerate Pontus Greek activities disguised as rituals, According to Erdem, such activities aim to undermine the values of the nation and the sovereignty of the state.
She also highlighted that Sumela is not just a monastery but a historic site that has not functioned as a monastery for centuries.
Coşkun Dilber, the Trabzon provincial chairman of the government-supported civil servants union Türkiye Kamu-Sen, issued a press statement describing the ritual as illegal, demanding its immediate cancellation and a ban on any future such events.
He emphasized that Türkiye Kamu-Sen’s commitment to raising awareness about this illegal ceremony and their urging authorities to take action reflects their dedication to national and spiritual values, their love for the Turkish nation and their loyalty to the Republic of Turkey. Dilber said there are court rulings prohibiting rituals and worship in museums and at historic sites, which explicitly affirm that such practices are not allowed at Sümela. He clarified that Sümela is neither a church nor a house of worship but rather a museum and historic site
However, Yaycı’s efforts have faced backlash from local business owners. Metin İnan, president of the Uzungöl Tourism Operators Association, argued that tourism should not be politicized. He reminded that Arab tourists who visited the region in the past have been targeted, adding, “In the last three years, xenophobia has put everyone involved in tourism in Trabzon in a difficult position.”
The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies announced that the ritual scheduled for August 23 will be accessible only to accredited guests approved by the governor’s office. After the ceremony is completed, the site will be reopened to all local and international visitors.
