Founded in 386 AD, the Greek Orthodox Sümela Monastery is situated on a steep cliff in the Altındere valley, in Trabzon. After thriving for centuries, the Sümela Monastery was abandoned in 1923 due to population exchanges between Greeks and Turks. In 2010, 88 years after it was last active, the monastery was once again opened to masses, and this year marked the third of its kind, held on August 15th, the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Almost 4,000 people flocked to the monastery for the first mass held in 2010 after decades of dormancy. This year, the numbers were more modest as 200 faithful came to Trabzon to take part in the Divine Liturgy. The economic crisis in Greece is considered to have been influential in the severe drop in numbers of worshippers visiting the historical monastery for its annual mass.
Intense security measures were in play starting in the morning hours as Orthodox Christians from Russia, Georgia and Greece lit candles in honor of the day they believe Mary ascended. The Fener Greek Patriarch was accompanied by a kemencha player as he climbed the path leading to the monastery. Bartholomew later presented the musician with a gift. The mass began at 10:00 Wednesday morning and was led by Patriarch Bartholomew. Amongst those that came out to watch the mss, was Greece's Ambassador to Istanbul Nicolas Matthioudakis and Maçka Mayor Ertuğrul Genç.
HAGIA SOPHIA PERSPECTIVE
Emphasizing that everyone has the right to freely fulfill their religion obligations, Bartholomew stated, "Instead of providing this liberty, do states and communities have the right to attack, strike or kill someone? Doesn't everyone's heart ache to see our Prime Minister's wife, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan personally pay a visit to Myanmar to witness the oppression? Unfortunately, the murders, slaughter and banishment committed in the name of religion continues. We have not yet been saved from this travesty."
Bartholomew also commented on the news that the historical Hagia Sophia Museum in Trabzon may be opened as a mosque to hold prayers ceremonies, by stating, "There is no need. It should remain as a museum." The Patriarch concluded his address by celebrating the Muslim Ramadan holiday.
AFAD: 33 MILLION TL COLLECTED IN DONATIONS FOR ARAKAN
The Prime Ministry Emergency and Natural Disaster Presidency (AFAD) has announced that as of today, they have collected 33,751,443 TL in aid for Myanmar. Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced that the Turkish delegation's trip to Myanmar last week was of extreme importance. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Advisor on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar was commenting on the recent trip paid by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, his wife and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan, when he stated, "This is one of the first times the Myanmar government has ever accepted international aid from any source that is not the U.N." Nambiar went on to state that these sorts of positive steps contribute to Myanmar's ongoing democraticization and reform process.
ACCOUNT NUMBERS FOR THE RED CRESCENT AND ÇALIK HOLDİNG'S JOINT AID CAMPAIGN
Akbank (Ankara Mithatpaşa Branch) TR83 0004 6003 5488 8000 0028 68 (TL) TR34 0004 6003 5400 1000 0028 68 (Dollar) TR11 0004 6003 5403 6000 0028 68 (Euro)
Garanti Bank (Ankara Kızılay Branch.) TR52 0006 2000 0820 0006 2528 68 (TL) TR58 0006 2000 0820 0009 0849 93 (Dollar) TR10 0006 2000 0820 0009 0828 68 (Euro)
Halkbank (Ankara Mithatpaşa Branch) TR97 0001 2009 3960 0016 0001 20 (TL) TR48 0001 2009 3960 0053 0006 82 (Dollar) TR57 0001 2009 3960 0058 0000 94 (Euro)
Ziraat Bank (Ankara Kızılay Branch.) TR27 0001 0006 8500 0028 6850 05 (TL) TR97 0001 0006 8500 0028 6850 06 (Dollar) TR70 0001 0006 8500 0028 6850 07 (Euro)
İş Bank (Ankara Mithatpaşa Branch) TR02 0006 4000 0014 2280 0028 68 (TL) TR49 0006 4000 0024 2281 9201 92 (Dollar) TR61 0006 4000 0024 2280 0028 68 (Euro)
This is a translation of an article originally written by Özgür Özdemir.
While the withdrawal of the PKK continues, as part of the ongoing resolution process, two-thirds of the terrorist organization’s armed members have already evacuated Turkish territories and are now in Iraq. 
The United States, which commented on the Gezi Park protests a total 17 times on four different television stations, initiated a surprise meeting yesterday between the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Prime Minister Erdoğan’s Chief Advisor Yalçın Akdoğan.
“The messages have been received,” stated President Gül, who also called for an end to the street demonstrations. The president also delivered a message to Alevi citizens who are objecting to the name given to the Third Bosporus Bridge by stating, “We could name another big project after Pir Sultan Abdal.”
Finance Minister Şimşek commented on allegations reported in The Guardian that he was monitored by U.K. intelligence, by stating that Foreign Ministry officials are taking the necessary measures. 
While England is rattled by the censorship scandal in the national press, AK Party Spokesman and Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik has announced that there will be no censorship on social media or classic media as Turkey, which now has a mature democracy, has left such issues long in the past.
AK Party Istanbul Deputy Bülent Turan has filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor against CHP Tunceli Deputy Hüseyin Aygün for “insults in the virtual realm and for inspiring public hatred, enmity and degradation.”
The ‘innocent’ protest which began at the start of the month in Brazil, as it did as well in Turkey, has since transitioned into a point of interest for its dark demonstrations. Both nations, as they suffer from simultaneous protests, stand out for having bright and promising economies.
Prime Minister Erdoğan stated on Tuesday that the Gezi protests are part of a professionally organized operation and vowed to hold those behind the events accountable by law. The Prime Minister also said that the police in Turkey have passed the test of democracy.
Responding to the European Parliament resolution condemning the police crackdown on protests sparked by redevelopment plans for Gezi Park, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated “They are confused. They have no fidelity,” and added that European politicians and institutions instantly laid down their masks in order to provoke events. 
One man’s passive defiance by way of standing in place in Taksim Square and looking straight at the Atatürk Culture Center, quickly turned into a social media phenomenon last night. 
Infuriating Germans, Green Party Co-Chair Roth was subjected to pepper spray in Istanbul. Commenting on the incident, German nationals say, “It turns out Erdoğan was right in saying that there are foreign forces triggering Taksim, and Roth’s presence is now proof.” Other comments include, “If Abdullah Gül showed up at Occupy Frankfurt of if Erdoğan was involved in the Stuttgart 21 demonstrations, the ground would shake!”
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been working continuously since last night on clearing and landscaping Taksim Square and Gezi Park. 
Explaining that the Gezi Park protests were planned six months ago, EU Minister Bağış states, “These protests are an attempt to trigger a move which will end in regime change in Turkey.” Bağış also discussed Prime Minister Erdoğan’s style with the Wall Street Journal. 
They came by land, they came by sea, and they came to hear their Prime Minister speak. Yesterday’s Kazlıçeşme rally in support of Prime Minister Erdoğan saw over a million supporters come out to the square with AK Party and Turkish flags in hand, giving true sentiment to the figures of Erdoğan’s support rate. 
