A, Turkish: SAmela ManastArA) stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the AltAndere valley in the region of MaAka in Trabzon Province, Turkey. It is a major tourist attraction located in the AltAndere National Park. It lies at an altitude of about 1200 metres overlooking much of the alpine scenery below.The monastery was founded in the year 386 (during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I, AD 375 - 395) by two Athenian priests - Barnabas and Sophronius according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture . Legend states that they found an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain and decided to remain in order to establish the monastery."">