Destination
Meryem Ana Manastiri
The Meryem Ana Monastery, located 11 kilometers east of the Şebinkarahisar district in Sarıyer village, belongs to the Byzantine Period. The present remains of the monastery, which suffered great destruction, date from the 19th century, when it was completely renewed. It is estimated that the structure, which recalls the Trabzon Sümela Monastery by being built inside a large hollow in the middle of a steep cliff, was constructed under its influence.
Meryem Ana Manastiri and 6 places around it
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Highlights
- Faith heritage
Good for
- Heritage walks
Suggested visit:45 minutes
Located 11 kilometers east of the Şebinkarahisar district, in Sarıyer village, Meryem Ana Manastırı belongs to the Byzantine Period. The present remains of the monastery, which suffered great destruction, date from the 19th century, when it was completely renewed. It is estimated that the structure, which resembles Trabzon Sümela Manastırı because it was built inside a large cavity in the middle of a steep cliff, was constructed under its influence.
Photo: Official Turkish Museums
Although properly cut stone was used in places in the monastery, where many building complexes are found together, the structure was actually built of irregular local rubble stone.
Photo: Official Turkish Museums
In front of the monastery, there is a water cistern on the left and a fountain made of cut stone on the right. On the second level of the monastery, which has a total of thirty-two rooms with walls decorated with paintings and which is reached by stairs, there are four student rooms of equal size side by side. At the top is the church carved into the rocks. Each nave has an apse.
Photo: Official Turkish Museums
The monastery, where the dormitory, classroom, church, dining hall, fountain and other building complexes are together, was restored by Giresun Governorship and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2013 and 2014 while it was largely destroyed. The monastery, which is a first-degree natural and archaeological protected site, was declared an archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2014 and opened to tourism.
Photo: Official Turkish Museums
How to Get to Giresun Şebinkarahisar Meryem Ana Manastırı?
The distance from Şebinkarahisar Meryem Ana Manastırı to Giresun city center is 126 kilometers. It is easy to reach by vehicle.
Source: Giresun Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
Places to Visit in Giresun
Address: Kayadibi Mahallesi Sarıyer Köyü Şebinkarahisar / Giresun
According to Wikipedia
In the Şebinkarahisar district of Giresun Province, this former monastery was carved from a single rock and dates to the 2nd century. The four-level structure included a church, a dining room, monks’ rooms, and a classroom, and it remained in use until the 1940s. It is identified as a church building and an archaeological site.
Source: Virgin Mary Monastery, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Summarised in our own words. · Source: Meryem Ana Manastırı, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Summarised in our own words.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
Location and surroundings
Meryem Ana Manastiri sits within Şebinkarahisar, Giresun. The toroti catalogue holds 74 described stops across Giresun, 14 of them in Şebinkarahisar.
The nearest stop is Meryemana Manastırı, 900 m to the west. Another 6 catalogued points lie within a 30 km radius.
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Frequently asked
- What is Meryem Ana Manastiri?
- The Meryem Ana Monastery, located 11 kilometers east of the Şebinkarahisar district in Sarıyer village, belongs to the Byzantine Period. The present remains of the monastery, which suffered great destruction, date from the 19th century, when it was completely renewed. It is estimated that the structure, which recalls the Trabzon Sümela Monastery by being built inside a large hollow in the middle of a steep cliff, was constructed under its influence.
- Where is Meryem Ana Manastiri?
- Meryem Ana Manastiri is in Şebinkarahisar, Giresun.
- How long does it take to visit Meryem Ana Manastiri?
- The suggested visit time for Meryem Ana Manastiri is about 45 minutes.
- What else is there to see near Meryem Ana Manastiri?
- toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Meryem Ana Manastiri; the closest are Meryemana Manastırı, Şebinkarahisar Behramşah Cami, Tiralizade Hasan Bey Konağı.