Mass of the Assumption Banned by Authorities
After 88 years of closure, the Panagia Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, was reopened in June 2010 and since then, the Turkish authorities had given a license for a yearly Mass to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to celebrate the Mass of the Assumption. This year, the authorization was administratively revoked.
The official reason given was that the building would be unstable and would present dangers of collapse. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is concerned that this is a permanent revocation. The ban has disappointed Pontian people worldwide and Greek faithful who planned to attend Mass for the Feast of Assumption at the monastery. Source: Greek Reporter