FINANCIAL TIMES August 15 2010 22:18 By David O’Byrne in Istanbul
Turkey lifts ban to allow mass at monastery ˜
Five hundred Greek orthodox Christians have celebrated mass in the beautiful 1,600-year-old Sumela monastery in north-eastern Turkey, ending an 88-year ban on religious services at the site.
Conducted by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomew I, the mass attracted orthodox Christians from Greece, Russia, Georgia, the US and Turkey to the monastery that sits on a ledge high in a cliff inland from the Turkish Black Sea port of Trabzon.
*****************************************
REUTERS CANADA Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:30am EDT By Ayla Jean Yackley
Orthodox flock to once-banned holy site in Turkey
‘Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians, celebrated the Divine Liturgy to mark the Feast Day of the Virgin Mary. The faithful believe Jesus's mother Mary was taken up to heaven on August 15 after her death.’
*****************************************
ASSOCIATED PRESS August 15 2010, By Erol Israfil
Patriarch holds historic Mass at monastery
The mass conducted by Patriarch Bartholomew I, religious leader of all Orthodox Christians, marks the first official religious service carried out at the ancient monastery since the foundation of the modern Turkish Republic.
*****************************************
BBC NEWS August 15 2010
Orthodox Christians from around the world have been attending a rare Mass at an ancient monastery in Turkey.
At least 1,500 pilgrims, including people from Greece and Russia, travelled to the Byzantine-era monastery.
*****************************************
GREEK REPORTER EUROPE August 15 2010 by Anny Tzotzadini
After 88 years, the tears of the Virgin Mary have stopped flowing, the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos, said during the service.
*****************************************
DIE PRESSE.COM 16.08.2010 | 08:59
Trkisches Kloster Sumela: Erste Messe seit 90 Jahren ˜
*****************************************
EURONEWS 15/08 16:36 CET
Rare Orthodox mass held at Turkish monastery.
*****************************************
EL NACIONAL.COM 15 de agosto 2010 | 10:22 am – EFE
Celebran misa cristiana en el monasterio turco de Sumela por primera vez en 88
*****************************************
POLSKA AGENCJA PRASOWA SA 15 August 2010
Pierwsza od 88 lat msza w prawosł awnym klasztorze Sumela w Turcji