It is believed that the church was built between 365-395 AD. The rules of Cappadocia churches, which are frequently encountered in Anatolia, were made; in fact, there is a similar cave church in the Maşatlık area of ​​Trabzon. Little can be said about the thousand-year period between the first foundation of the church and its conversion into a monastery. According to a legend told among the Black Sea Greeks, two monks named Barnabas and Sophronios of Athens had the same dream; in their dreams, they saw the place of Sumela where the icon was located, out of the three Panagia icons made by Saint Luke in the children of Jesus. Thereupon, unaware of the events, they came to Trabzon by sea, met there, told each other about their dreams and thought that the first church could be built. However, the fact that it is widely present in the frescoes in the monastery makes it thought that Emperor Alexios III of Trebizond, who is given special importance, is the real founder of the monastery.

Zigana Pass is a pass in the North Anatolian Mountains, within the borders of Gümüşhane province. Its altitude is 2032 meters. The pass is located at the transition point between the Eastern Black Sea geographical structure and the Central Anatolian plateaus. The Harşit Valley is located on the Central Anatolian side. On the Central Anatolian side of the pass, villages are less common than on the Black Sea side, collective settlements are seen and the density of forests decreases. The pass is located among dense forests.

Hamsiköy is an old accommodation place located 19 km away from Maçka District on the northern route of the Silk Road from China and India to Europe on the northern skirt of Zigana Mountain. Its name comes from the Arabic Hamse village (five villages). Hamsiköy has a unique natural beauty with its gushing waters flowing from its rivers throughout the valley, mountain slopes embraced by mist, forests with purple-flowered rhododendrons, historical mansions and fountains. In addition to its natural, cultural and historical values, it contributes to the economy of Trabzon and the country with its delicious milk originating from the flower flora of the region and the production of vacuum kashar, butter, string cheese and curd cheese. Hamsiköy Sütlacı: The specialty of Hamsiköy Sütlacı is that the delicious milk originating from the flower flora of the region is cooked in a long time like one hour with a special cooking technique using only rice, sugar and salt.

Visit the glass terrace in Torul for stunning valley views from above.