The Turkish authorities have refused permission for a divine service to mark the Dormition of the Theotokos on 15 August at the Panagia Soumela Monastery, with it instead to take place on 23 August.
The Ecumencial Patriarchate announced they would hold the service eight days later, as reported in Kathimerini, and will be celebrated by Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos.
The service was also in question last year with Turkish authorities initially refusing it to occur before eventually giving permission, the first time such a disturbance had occurred in the 13 years since the first patriarchal mass was held in the history monastery.
Turkey’s policy towards Greek monuments, ancient and medieval, has gone through several ‘waves’ over the years.
It was not until the 1980s and 1990s when their policy began to change and the flow of Greek visitors increased considerably.
