Kuştul Monastery, Greek Orthodox monastery ruins in Maçka, Turkey.
Kuştul Monastery is a Byzantine religious complex perched on a rocky hilltop in the Pontic region. The ruins reveal the scattered remains of residential quarters, prayer halls, and service buildings spread across the forested slopes.
The monastery was founded during the Byzantine period and served as an Orthodox Christian place of worship for over a thousand years. Its community departed in 1923 following population exchanges between Greece and Turkey.
The monastery maintained a substantial library of 7000 volumes and served as a center for Greek Orthodox religious studies in the Trabzon Province.
Reaching this site requires hiking steep mountain trails that begin from nearby Şimşirli village. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and bring plenty of water for the demanding walk.
According to the founding legend, three monks discovered the location by following a flock of pigeons through the dense forests of the region. This miraculous tale shaped the place's spiritual importance for generations of pilgrims.
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