Sumela to hold third mass August 15

A special Greek Orthodox service will be held at Sumela Monastery in the Black Sea province of Trabzon for the third year in a row tomorrow. Patriarch Bartholomew will conducting the service, which is held in honor of the Assumption of Mary up to heaven, a Christian feast that is marked on Aug. 15. "All preparations have been completed, and we will do our best to welcome the guests," Trabzon Gov. Recep Kizilcik said. The first service at Sumela was held in 2010 after an 88-year hiatus. Due to the limited capacity of the monastery, only around 500 people will be admitted inside to watch the service although large screens will be set up in the lower portion of the building for those who cannot gain access. The service will start at 11 a.m. and is expected to last until 2 p.m. Many people have attended the event over the past two years, Kizilcik said. "Reservations were made for this year's service, [and] we took all the necessary precautions. We will welcome our guest as well as we can just like the past two years."