TURKIYE: Sümela Monastery

Sümela Monastery is dramatically perched on a sheer cliff 300 metres (1,000 feet) above the valley below, in the Pontic Mountains near Trabzon, northern Türkiye.

It was founded in the 4th century AD, making it one of the oldest monasteries in the region.

The monastery was built into the cliff for a combination of religious, practical and defensive reasons.

Sümela Monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was an important center of Greek Orthodox Christianity, in primarily a Muslim country, for more than 1,500 years.

LAOS: Monks at Dawn in Luang Prabang

Sai Bat (morning alms) takes place between the hours of 5-6am each day and involves people placing food and personal care items into the alms bowls of passing monks. 

It’s a silent and sacred ceremony – one that is steeped in tradition.

Every morning the monks wake up at 3.30am and head to the temple house to pray for an hour . 

They then walk into town with their alms bowls to collect rations for the day. 

The monks collect alms as a way to keep their vows, while the locals give alms in order to gain merit for the afterlife – it is considered the first step on the road to Nirvana.

THAILAND: Buddhist Monks

Buddhism is the most popular religion in Thailand, with around 95% of its population adhering to the Theravada tradition. 

Monks are some of the most highly respected people in Thai society. 

They are easily distinguished by their bright orange robes. 

Buddhism is such an important part of Thai life that every man in Thailand is required to become a monk for a period of time before the age of 20. 

Though the expected time length is about three months, some will stay as little as a day or two. 

The majority of monks remain for at least a few weeks, although some choose to remain in monkhood for the rest of their lives.