Panagia Soumela: Permission was granted for Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
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In the wake of the previous reactions, when it became known a few days ago that the Turkish authorities did not grant permission for this year’s celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the Monastery of Panagia Soumela, the facts seem to have changed.
According to recent information, the Turkish authorities appear to be finally giving the relevant permission, which means that the celebration will be held normally, as it had been done in previous years.
Sources from the Ecumenical Patriarchate state that the Turkish authorities and more specifically the Ministry of the Interior gave verbal permission for the Divine Liturgy to take place. The relevant permission is going to be made public, officially, in the next few days.
Last year, as well as in 2021, the celebration was held normally in the restored Monastery, which had remained closed since 2015 due to maintenance and restoration works.
It is recalled that a few days ago, on 20 July 2023, the Ecumenical Patriarchate released a statement in which it stated: “The pious Christians are hereby notified that this year, the Divine Liturgy will not be held on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15) in the historic Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela, as the required permission was not granted by the competent governmental authorities”.
Source: Kathimerini.gr / Μανώλης Κωστίδης